This year we held our 7th Annual Lakes Survey Week!  Over 100 volunteers conducted approximately 55 surveys on lakes in Hancock County.  Thank you to all our volunteers!

2010 Lakes Surveyed

Would you like to help out next year? 

Volunteers pick a public boat launch or a hand-carried access point on a Hancock County lake of their choice to perform an aquatic plant survey.  Training, survey forms, and most field equipment (including underwater view scopes) are provided and surveys take approximately 1 hour to complete.  Check back next summer to sign up to survey your lake!  

Why is this work important? 

Invasive aquatic plants, already present in 32 water bodies in Southern and Mid-Coastal Maine, spread rapidly and are virtually impossible and extremely costly to remove once established.  Invasive plants can devastate a lake’s recreational uses and beauty and can lead to reduced property values along the lake (which leads to higher property taxes elsewhere).  Heavy traffic areas, such as boat launches, tend to be the first location of invasive aquatic plant growth as plant fragments are accidentally spread from boat trailers, canoes, kayaks, etc. that have recently been in infested lakes.  Early detection of these plants is the best defense, since once they are established, eradication is extremely difficult (if not impossible) and very costly. 

If you are interested in being trained to identify invasive aquatic plants, please call the HCSWCD to find out about upcoming workshops.  Please check the Upcoming Trainings link for information on plant identification workshops, or contact the District at 667-8663 or email megan.facciolo@me.nacdnet.net if you would like more information or to volunteer during our Hancock County Lakes Survey Week. 

This important work can’t be

accomplished without you!