5 March 2006

Please read the message below and then complete the attached questionnaire. Forward this message with attached questionnaire to others that may be interested. Thank you. (Please excuse if you receive this more than once.)

INVASIVE AQUATIC PLANT SPECIES IN YORK COUNTY:
Do you have questions and concerns about these plants?
Do you want to learn more about them and how to identify them?
Would you like to get together with others to learn more and discuss related issues?
Would you like to start inspecting your waterbody for these invasive plants?
Over the past few years it has been discovered that York County has 4 waterbodies
where aquatic invasive plant populations have been detected. York County has 3 different species of aquatic invasive plants.
Curly-leaf pondweed in West Pond in Parsonsfield,
Hydrilla in Pickerel Pond in Limerick,
and Variable leaf water-milfoil in Lake Arrowhead, Limerick/Waterboro and Balch Lake (Pd.), Acton/Newfield

There are other infested waterbodies close by in Oxford and Cumberland counties (ME) and in several NH waterbodies. Most of those infestations are Variable leaf water-milfoil, but Eurasian water-milfoil has also been found in a private, un-named gravel pit pond in Scarborough and also in a small pond in Brookfield, NH.

Some waterbodies are more susceptible than others to the introduction of an invasive species. The sooner an infestation is detected the less troublesome and costly the management will be.

Laurie Callahan (aquatic biologist) and the York County Soil & Water Conservation District are applying for grant funding to support a 2006 project to bring technical assistance and outreach activities to groups and individuals in York County to assist them in various aspects related to invasive aquatic plants. This will include: learning about invasive aquatic plants, how to recognize and identify them and common native species of aquatic plants, how to survey a part or all of a waterbody for invasive species and what to do if you think you have found an invasive aquatic species. One of the major goals of the project will be to check a number of York County waterbodies, particularly ones with public boat launches that have not yet been checked for invasive aquatic plants. These “on-the-water” outings will be led/coordinated by Laurie Callahan. Participation will be open to any one interested in participating and will be a good opportunity to get “hands-on” training in plant identification and aquatic plant survey experience.

Accompanying this announcement is a questionnaire. The information will be used to determine the level of interest in the subject/concern of invasive aquatic plants in York County and also to design outreach sessions. Once completed questionnaires are received and we are successful at obtaining funding for the project one or two discussion sessions will be held to “fine-tune” the project session topics and schedule.

PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THE ATTACHED QUESTIONNAIRE – THE INFORMATION FROM IT WILL BE A KEY ELEMENT IN THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT

For more information contact:

Deb Mayo at the York County Soil & Water Conservation District, Tel.: 207-324-7015, email: Debbie.Mayo@me.nacdnet.net

OR

Laurie Callahan, Aquatic Biologist, Tel.: 802-258-1877 , email: yciasp@hotmail.com