7968-R2_LSLA_2022_SummerNewsletter_Web

What’s Happening Around My Lake? Surface / Sub-Surface / Shoreline and Beyond

Assembled by Pam Wilkinson

Algae Blooms-Causes and Cycles Algae is a natural part of the aquatic ecosystem in a lake. It is common to see this in certain areas of the lake but when it becomes too abundant it is a sign of something wrong. Key causes of algae blooms are an abundance of phosphorus and nitrogen from run-off. Animal waste, fertilizers and sewerage is carried by rain to the lake and not absorbed by the characteristics of the watershed. If you see green algae on your shoreline look around at your and your neighbor’s property and see what changes can be made to deter this from happening. Certain conditions promote the growth of algae- time of year, increased nutrients, increased light, presence of dead organic

Fanwort- Cabomba caroliniana - Invasive In another instance last summer an inspector from Long Pond discovered Fanwort on a boat that was previously in Little Sebago. The invasive plant was underneath the trailer’s spare tire, tucked against the rim located flat on the trailer tongue beneath the bow. He fished on one spot west of Frogg Island where the sea plane was moored, just before the point of land. Prior to Little Sebago he was at Stump Pond in Rhode Island, a very weedy pond containing fanwort and variable milfoil. An inspection of the area was made without any findings. It is important to continue to monitor this summer.

Fanwort is a submerged plant with narrow leaves that resemble a fan arranged on a narrow stem. Most of the plant is submerged. The small white flowers emerge from the water’s surface and small lily-like leaves float in the surface below the flowers. Fanwort has not been identified in any of Maine’s waters and we hope to keep it that way. It will look like water marigold but there are several differences. If you are in that area, please do inspections as often as possible and keep in touch. Fanwort leaves are on a stem off the main stem-invasive plant.

matter, warmer temperatures, and certain wind conditions. Typically, the algae will dissipate in a couple of weeks. Each year we like to track where the algae growths occur. It can be different each year depending upon the wind. If you have concerns, please contact info@littlesebagolake.com and someone will respond and record your area.

Two new possible invasive threats! Let’s all be on the look out! Invasive Hydrilla verses Native Elodea

Hydrilla-invasive . Leaves in whorls of 4-5, about ½ inch long, fine-toothedmargins, spine at tip. Look-alike is native common waterweed (Elodea canadensis) with leaves in whorls of 3 and not teeth or spines. Last summer, through an inspection of a boat entering the lake, the invasive plant hydrilla was discovered and removed prior to entering the lake. The boat had come from Lake Champlain. The last thing the lake needs is to zap more resources removing another invasive plant. One of the differences between the two plants is the elodea has only three leaves on the whorl and the hydrilla leaves grow in whorls of 4-10 with 5 being most common. Hydrilla leaves are pointed bright green and serrated.

Native Water Marigold’s leaves are located on the main stem.

Elodea-native . Leaves are bright green, translucent and oblong,3 leaves on whorl. Last summer we had an explosion of native Elodea which looks similar to the invasive hydrilla. Most other lakes reported the same occurrence. We will keep a watchful eye out this summer to see if the elodea continues to grow or whether it was a cyclical occurrence. If you have any questions regarding what you are finding in your area, contact info@littlesebagolake.com for a sample to be collected for further identification.

Invasive Hybrid Variable Milfoil- uniform feather-like leave structures.

22

23