Big Lake Milfoil Coalition

With the discovery of variable-leaf water-milfoil (also commonly referred to as variable watermilfoil and abbreviated here as VWM) in Big Lake during the fall of 2019, it became clear that organizations in the Downeast Lakes region needed to spring into action.  The quick-spreading nature of this invasive species has created the need for an immediate and thorough response. This urgent need has led to the formation of the Big Lake Milfoil Coalition, organized to fight against the spread of this new arrival to the Downeast Lakes region.  DLLT will be organizing this coalition and acting as the fiscal agent for all project funding contributions.  Members in this ambitious partnership include:

• Downeast Lakes Land Trust
  

  Volunteer IPP’ers (Invasive Plant Patrol), on the lookout for milfoil.

• Passamaquoddy Tribe
• Lake Stewards of Maine
• Woodland Pulp, LLC
• Grand Lake Stream Guides Association
• Princeton Rod and Gun Club
• Big Lake Campmeeting Association
• Big Lake Road Association
• Town of Grand Lake Stream

“The problem of invasive milfoil is too big and too important for any one organization to tackle alone,” said DLLT President David Montague, “which is why it’s so important for all of us to work together on this issue. With support from Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, this local initiative is critical for protecting the lakes and the vitally important fishery.”

How You Can Help

DLLT is busy fundraising to help with the costs of this removal effort.  Support the efforts of this coalition by clicking the button below and making a donation! Make sure to write “milfoil” on your donation note.

  There are many ways you can help!

• Before moving boats between waterbodies, ALWAYS Clean, Drain, and Dry your boat, trailer, motor, and equipment.
• Attend or participate online in Invasive Plant Patrol training, and help look for invasive variable watermilfoil on the lake
• Providing access points for survey efforts; including providing space for temp storage of small boats and/or trailers
• Join a local Invasive Plant Patrol Team
• Provide SCUBA support for survey/removal efforts
• Help outreach efforts to the community, including social media outreach
• Help construct survey team equipment
• Assist with mapping efforts (GIS projects)
• If you find a ROOTED plant please reach out to us with the location! Drop a buoy or take a gps
  point if you can. The more eyes finding plants the faster we’ll be able to remove them.
• Donate to the removal efforts online or by sending a check to DLLT with “Big Lake Milfoil Coalition” in the memo. 

   

Contact us at either of the following locations:

DLLT Office                  (207)796-2100
4 Water Street
Grand Lake Stream      info@downeastlakes.org

Tribal Env Dept            (207)796-6156
9 Industrial Park Rd
Princeton                    Joe Musante: joemusante@yahoo.com

2020 Progress

During the fall of 2020, volunteers from the Lake Stewards of Maine and the Maine DEP undertook an extensive survey effort, and DEP contracted with New England Milfoil, a private company specializing in variable watermilfoil (VWM) removal, to remove infestation sites using scuba divers and suction devices that capture plant particles that could otherwise drift away and take root in other parts of the lake. While these measures showed some success in VWM removal, we are still in the very early stages of the fight against this invasive plant.

The formation of this coalition will allow Downeast Lakes Land Trust and partner organizations to spread the workload more efficiently, and collectively improve the fight against VWM infestation. In an effort to contain the spread, DLLT interns and volunteers will be performing courtesy boat inspections each summer at various launches on Big Lake. 

Please do your part, and help the coalition stop the spread of VWM by checking your boat for plant materials before transporting, and by cleaning, draining, and drying all surfaces and compartments before launching on a new waterbody.  The vigilance of local residents, boaters, and recreationists in the area is paramount to the future success of these collaborative efforts. We hope that by catching this unfortunate infestation early, we will be able to protect Big Lake and the many beautiful lakes in the Downeast Lakes region for future generations.

2021 Progress

During the summer and fall of 2021, the Big Lake Milfoil Coalition made great strides in the fight against the highly-invasive variable watermilfoil (VWM). An in-depth, level three survey of Big Lake and all tributaries was completed, revealing several VWM infestations and allowing the Coalition to collect important geographic data. The primary infestation continues to be located in Clifford Bay (the area of original discovery), with additional infestations in Musquash Bay, and at the mouth of Big Musquash Stream. Floating patches were observed by boaters and surveyors in many areas of the lake, and several smaller infestations were promptly removed by trained volunteers to prevent spread. Most of this crucial survey work and data collection was completed by passionate volunteer lake monitors who traveled from all across the state of Maine to assist with these removal efforts which are critical to the economic and environmental well-being of the Downeast Lakes region.

This fall, using funding from Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the Coalition contracted New England Milfoil for 8 weeks of diver-assisted suction harvesting, removing more than 23,000 gallons of this aquatic invasive. DLLT and coalition members are so thankful for the many volunteer hours spent on the water, as well as the generous donations that are helping make these efforts possible.

Local camp owner and dedicated volunteer, Bill Inglee, remarked about the severity of the threat and importance of the formation of the Coalition. “Until the discovery and identification last year of invasive non-native variable-leaf milfoil last summer by our local Game Warden, Brad Richard, and Joe Musante, Passamaquoddy Tribe biologist, few of us in the Big Lake area fully understood the serious threat milfoil posed to pristine northern lake areas such as our own. Capable of clogging a watershed, undermining the native fish population, and spreading further in a wonderful northern area like ours, with pristine waters and few people, the discovery was extremely disturbing news to say the least.”

While these measures showed some success in VWM removal, we are still in the very early stages of the fight against this invasive plant. Ongoing efforts will continue in 2022, and for several more years, to monitor and remediate the situation. The vigilance of local residents, boaters, and recreationists in the area is paramount to the future success of these collaborative efforts. “While much work still remains to be done, this year went remarkably well and we are very optimistic about the future,” said Inglee. “And for the local camp community, there is a new appreciation for the positive role played by DLLT in protecting the environment all around us in such a dynamic and effective way.”

2022 Progress

New England Milfoil spent 12 weeks mapping and removing variable watermilfoil (VWM) from Big Lake this summer. Variable watermilfoil is an invasive non-native species capable of clogging a watershed and undermining the native fish population. Since its discovery in Big Lake in 2019, our community sprang into action: DLLT organized the Big Lake Milfoil Coalition, volunteers have conducted extensive surveys, and Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection has been contracting with New England Milfoil (NEM) for diver-assisted suction harvesting every season since.

This 2022 season, NEM mapped 38 acres of extremely dense VWM in Clifford Bay, including 26 acres near the mouth of Clifford Stream. The strategic approach for this season was to maintain a relatively VWM-free channel connecting Clifford Stream to Clifford Bay while completely removing other areas of lower density infestation. Crews of volunteers worked from August through October, mapping the spread of VWM so that contracted divers could remove known patches.

 

Diving teams started the removal effort by pulling all the known small patches in Long Lake before moving to Big Musquash Stream and Grand Falls Flowage. Little River and a cove near Peter Dana Point were entirely cleaned up. The remaining weeks focused more closely on Clifford Bay, where VWM is quite dense. NEM removed plant growth in the mouth of Clifford Stream and the southern end of the bay to reduce fragmentation of milfoil by boaters accessing the stream. Typically, plants were found in 4 to 9 feet of water. Divers experienced certain areas where the VWM seemed to grow directly from the rocks! The rocks had to be moved out of the way to get at the roots which is no small task. Even if the entire summer’s work had focused only on Clifford Bay, it would not have been possible to remove all the known milfoil growth due to the extremely dense nature of the infestation in that area.

Crews worked through most weather conditions, rain or shine, and strategically shifted areas based on weather and visibility. Their dedication to the project reaped a grand total of 13,183 gallons of VWM removed from Big Lake waters this season! The work is still far from being complete. Please do your part, and help the Coalition stop the spread of milfoil by checking your boat for plant materials before transporting, and by cleaning, draining, and drying all surfaces and compartments before launching on a new waterbody. The vigilance of local residents, boaters, and recreationists in the area is paramount to the future success of these collaborative efforts.

 

2023 In Progress

The Department of Environmental Protection has partially funded the Big Lake Milfoil Coalition’s 2023 plan for further removal of variable watermilfoil. Fundraising is ongoing and donations are appreciated!