5349-R2_ML&P_LSLA_2016_Web_WinterNewsletter_Web

2017 Milfoil Militia Program Pam Wilkinson & Tim Greer

U pper B asin G ray

T win B rooks G ray

B eaver C ove G ray

M umford C ove G ray

B ean I sland G ray

F arwell C ove

L ower B asin W indham

Total Project Cost

B ag T otals

A mount S pent

V olunteer T ime

YEAR

55 62 58 54 17 50 26 55 11 Lost info found in 2016 thru DEP, totals given, no breakdowns - - - - - - - - - 91 63 133 - - - - - 97 9 2 7 296 3 3 271 215 390 187 178 87 315 180 93

1,260 1,769 1,720 1,781 1,200 1,130 1,187 718

67,296 55,652 51,580 67,266 48,350 46,254 51,508 43,926 32,233 28,144 27,620 62,517

9,255 9,260 13,786 17,046 12,466 13,301 13,910 13,000 9,246 9,650

76,511 64,912 65,366 84,312 60,817 59,555 65,418 56,926 41,479 37,469 72,167

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2006

710 1,332 967 1,491 353 165 127 130 7,489 761 500 954

47 16 21 34 28 71 34

16 49 15 50 24 10

- - -

631 390 237 184

53 39

-

- -

9,325 9,300

2

1

8 2

36,920

777

12,205.00

$582,346

2,006

$721,891

336

$139,545

0

389

TOTALS

Each bag equals approx. 20 pounds dry weight. To date approx. 122 tons removed over 12 years.

It is exciting that each year our counts for our invasive variable milfoil decreases. Prior to our operation beginning the crew meets to strategize for the year. It is best to review the shallow areas to prevent boat motors fragmenting the plant. Mumford cove is where the milfoil was first discovered and was the first area we went and to our surprise only a few plants were discovered. The cove was rechecked throughout the year with minimal removal.

The lower basin which is in Windham has the most milfoil so we surveyed the beds from last year’s extractions and continued until mid-August when we traveled north to the upper basin in Gray to review and extract from the recorded milfoil beds from last year. Again, we were surprised on the limited amounts in each area. After approximately two weeks of removal from the upper basin, upper narrows and Beaver Cove we proceeded south. On the way we visited Farwell Cove and Bean Island to remove a few plants from each area. The remaining of our operation focused on the lower basin. We ended the program the middle of September. As we found a very warm fall, there was growth reported in several areas. Unfortunately the boats were put to rest, but rest assured those areas are marked and will be visited first after the plant rises again from the bottom. All in all, the diver and crew were pleased and proud of the condition of the lake. Gray, which is approximately two thirds of the lake, reported

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