(207) 324-0888

YORK COUNTY (207) 324-4822 Fax SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT Anderson Learning Center 21 Bradeen St., Suite 104 Springvale, ME 04083 Phone: 207-324-0888 Email: [email protected] Website: www.yorkswcd.org

JULY 18 UPDATE 201 2 York County Invasive Aquatic Species Project – with a special survey focus on sections of 3 York County rivers – the , and

Project activities will be occurring from July through Fall 2012.

1. On Thursday, July 19 (9:30 AM -12) a York County collaborative invasive aquatic plant survey session will take place on Wilson Lake in Acton. Jeanne Achille, Weed Watcher (WW)/ Invasive Plant Patroller (IPP) on Wilson Lake has invited others to assist her with performing an IPP survey at a couple of boat launch areas on the lake. Folks from Mousam Lake and Square Pond will participate along with Laurie Callahan, 2012 YCIASP Coordinator . [If you or your group would like some assistance with meeting your invasive aquatic plant survey goals this summer, please contact Laurie Callahan – [email protected] , 802- 258-1877 - to begin the collaboration.]

2. Little Association and YCSWCD will co-host a VLMP IPP Field Workshop on Saturday, July 28th , 8:30 AM -12:30, on Little Ossipee Lake in Waterboro.

3. In late July or early August, Laurie Callahan ( YCIASP coordinator & aquatic biologist ) will lead one or two paddling “tours” on infested water bodies in York County. Those tours will be scheduled and announced soon.

4. Callahan will lead on-the-water “paddles”on water bodies without organized associations; each will last 2-3 hours and will focus on performing IAP screening surveys; some of these will be on sections of the Saco, Ossipee and Little Ossipee Rivers.

5. In August and September Laurie Callahan (YCIASP Coordinator ) will offer several custom presentations or workshops for groups: These can be indoor, on-the-shore &/or on-the- water events that are 2, 3 or 4 hours long; sessions can be customized for the group or waterbody; there is a fee of $50/HR for the session. If you are interested, Please contact us soon to plan and schedule a session! [Possibilities include, but are not limited to: organizing an IPP survey strategy for your water body, group of water bodies; assembling reference materials or collection (print, Internet, digital); lakeshore or riparian invasive plants presentation; plant identification workshop; “on-the-water” custom workshop to develop interests/skills geared to your group’s interests; can be combined with an “on-the- shore” component; other idea related to IAP/IAS.]

6. In August YCIASP will host an invasive aquatic species (IAS) symposium – focusing on topics relevant and current in York County.

7. The month of August is being designated as York County Aquatic Plant and Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Month by YCSWCD and YCIASP. Interested in participating in any of the above activities ? Please contact us: Melissa Brandt, YCSWCD: [email protected] ; 207-324-0888, ext. 214 Laurie Callahan, YCIASP Coordinator: [email protected] ; 802-258-1877 (mobile)

Variable milfoil Curly-leaf pondweed Hydrilla European naiad

INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANT SPECIES IN YORK COUNTY

Maine has 23 water courses infested with 6 invasive aquatic plant species. (In 2011 the description was 33 waterbodies .) Of those 23 water courses in Maine, York County has 8 water bodies where 4 different invasive aquatic plant species have been detected. (See the 4 photos at the top of the page.) Those 8 infestations include Variable milfoil in 5 of the 8 infested water bodies, Hydrilla occurs in 1, c urly-leaf pondweed occurs in 2 others and European naiad (or European water nymph ) has been found in one. A pond in Kittery with the European naiad population is also one of the sites with curly leaf pondweed . Four York County water bodies have very active invasive aquatic plant management projects that have been carried-out each year for the past several years. Those are Pickerel Pond in Limerick ( hydrilla ), West Pond in Parsonsfield ( curly leaf pondweed ), Balch Lake in Acton & Newfield, ME and Wakefield, NH ( variable milfoil ) and Lake Arrowhead in Waterboro & Limerick ( variable milfoil ). In 2006 one plant of variable milfoil was found in Great East Lake & it was removed. No other variable milfoil plants have been found there since & Great East Lake has been taken off Maine's list of infested water bodies.

YCSWCD has received grant funding from Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund for the 201 2 York County Invasive Aquatic Species Project – With a Special Survey Focus on sections of 3 York County Rivers – the Saco, Ossipee and Little Ossipee Rivers

One of the main goals of this project is to provide volunteers with skills & tools to become active in invasive aquatic species spread prevention, early detection and rapid response efforts in York County. These 3 elements are important and effective strategies to minimize the monetary and ecological impacts of an invasive aquatic species introduction or infestation.

Please join us for our project activities this summer & become a part of an important effort to minimize the impact of invasive aquatic species in our local water bodies!

Updated schedules for project activities will be provided soon at YCSWCD’s website, www.yorkswcd.org , and via email notices.