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Eurasian Milfoil EradicationA Success Story Not Found In Most Lakes Infested With Eurasian Milfoil Mascoma Lake Association's (MLA's) ongoing fight against Eurasian milfoil started around 1998. Since our worst enemy is the lack of awareness of the great problem that it can cause, we must encourage others with what we are doing and the success we have had. We began harvesting milfoil from canoes and rowboats. As our operation grew, so did our need for a larger vessel; we purchased a used pontoon boat and named it "The SS Milfoil". Three large signs for the sides and back identify our boat making people aware of who we are, what we are doing and a telephone number to call if suspicious plants are found. The pontoon boat has been a great asset for volunteers to go spotting, marking and uprooting the milfoil. Our Milfoil Team's "Spotting and Removal System" is composed of four permanent divers, four part-time divers, three on-board workers and three designated drivers. A driver and at least one on-board worker must always be ready to go whenever the weather is cooperating and before the wind begins to make ripples on the water (an average of 2-4 hours per day, 2-3 days per week, summer and fall). Whenever reports of suspicious plants come in, the area is checked out as soon as possible. On days that the water is still, you can clearly see what is in there. As plants are found, we throw white milfoil markers, write down the location, and make plans for uprooting the plants as soon as the divers are available. The white 6" by 2 1/2" by 3/4" wooden marker is attached to a metal rod with about 15' of fluorescent twine. Each marker has "MLA Milfoil Marker - Please Do Not Remove" printed on it to warn boats and swimmers to stay away and avoid chopping the plants into pieces. Records are kept of the times the SS Milfoil is used, the places where milfoil is found and the harvested amounts. A lake map is updated frequently with large red push pins indicating all the milfoil areas found, some of which are free from milfoil today. New areas of the lake are thoroughly explored every year as an on-going effort to monitor and to stop the spread of milfoil. A "Captain System" is our solution to patrolling the whole lake. Our lake map is divided into 25 areas with a Captain assigned to each. They are instructed and provided with markers and information as to how and what to look for. They are to contact their neighbors, making them aware of the problem, and encouraging them to look-out for anything suspicious in the water or on the shore and then report to him/her if anything is found. As plants are found, the Captains mark the area and call the Team to come verify and properly mark the site. Later, the divers are brought to the area to carefully uproot the plants with the root system intact. The word "pull" is never used when referring to the milfoil process. If you "pull", not all the roots come out and pieces of the plant brake off. Any little piece left behind, whether rooted or even floating around, can start a new plant. Many of the infested areas have been found by the Captains. Persistence is of utmost importance, as one of them so wisely said. He knew he had seen "something" and reported it; but as he took the Team to the LaSalette shore location, the plants were no-where to be found. He felt terrible about having "wasted our Team's time"; he did not know that the glare on the water was hiding the plants. The next day, while searching on his own, he found a huge patch. Because of his diligence, a large area was cleaned. It could have caused a great problem if not taken care off in time. Eurasian milfoil can be described as a "fluffy" squirrel's tail standing straight up while in the water. The plant has a main stem and from it, each leaf is like in a feather form. When out of the water it looks almost like a string, totally opposite of the ≥fluffy≈ look. Its color can be bright green, yellowish green, brownish, or a combination of all three. Milfoil can be found in a variety of places...sometimes floating around; other times rooted in a few inches of water near the shore or in any depth of up to 12 feet. It can root and grow in sandy areas, in rocky areas, amongst other plants or by itself, in a soda can, and even between huge boulders in very narrow spaces. A plant can be all by itself or a few plants in an area. Other times, huge patches that have reached the surface of the water have been found. We have never seen flowers on it. In the early spring, our divers have found milfoil lying on the bottom of the lake and it looks like a "hair comb with the teeth reaching up." From this one milfoil plant many others were growing standing up (as the teeth of a comb). Milfoil has been found in various locations on the Lebanon side - from Currier's Landing to the Lebanon Dam, in both the eastern and western shores on the Enfield side and, also, by the Shaker Bridge Motel -"underpass" area. Some years we have had less milfoil than others; all depending on the many factors which promote its growth. One time a huge patch of milfoil was found in front of the Shaker Bridge Motel area. From there, an imaginary line could be drawn all the way to the south shore on the east side of the lake where every so often milfoil "lone rangers" and even large patches could be found. It's believed that pieces broken off that patch floated down and rooted wherever they could. An interesting detail about that patch...our Team had been on this area and nothing was found. The next day, another Team member came with the report of finding a huge infestation. It was unbelievable as that area had been carefully checked the day before, but the weather conditions had made it impossible to see anything below. There are many factors that affect visibility. You might see a plant and by the time you turn around, it just disappears and you can not find it. That's why checking the whole lake often is so important. We encourage our weed watchers with these experiences as it can be frustrating for them thinking that they are wasting their time and "imagining plants." We encourage them to call us even if they are not sure, as there's never time wasted when looking for milfoil! One thing is for sure...we have not been able to rule out any place where Eurasian milfoil will not grow, as floating pieces can root themselves anywhere the sunlight reaches. We have exposed milfoil to extremely cold water temperatures in a dark room and it appears to be dead, but as soon as it is brought out into the sunlight, it comes back to life. So far, the only way to eliminate milfoil is to carefully uproot the whole plant and root system and dispose of it in land far from the water. We have thoroughly cleaned areas in the above manner and they have remained free of milfoil. As impossible as it sounds, but we have proof of it in our Lake. Our equipment has improved from year to year. While looking for milfoil, a dark hat with a large brim and a large black umbrella help cut the glare. Other colors reflect on the water and block the clarity. The divers use their hands and/or small gardening forks to get the plants and complete root systems out. Yellow divers' bags are preferred to easily see the milfoil pieces while cleaning them. A pool net is used to get run-away pieces while the divers are uprooting the plants and 5 gallon pails to collect the milfoil. A "double sink" (2 buckets with water) is a "must" and, also, a tropical fish net. After the divers bring the bags full and they are emptied it is necessary to rinse them and pick every little piece of milfoil from them. Since we can not empty the buckets back into the lake, we use the tropical fish net to clean the water of any milfoil pieces so that it can be used for cleaning all the bags. The water is then disposed of in land far away from the lake, together with the harvested milfoil. With the aid of grants our original 2-cycle gas engine was replaced with a 4-cycle engine, which not only does a great job, but also sets a good example for other boaters about our concerns in regards to pollution. Also, an electric motor was purchased. It is large enough to propel the barge at slower speeds so that the crew can work with the divers while they are in the water, and for trips around the lake looking down into the water for long periods of time. It has saved the Association a lot of gas money. As our operation grew, keeping everyone informed was of utmost importance. From that, the "MLA Milfoil Updates" via email began. They are sent as "Private" and that way, the address list remains unknown to all who receive it. These Updates keep all up-to-date on what we find and also, encourage each one to do their part. In them we post information about lost and found items and request help needed. Once we found a borrowed trailer (before we owned one) to bring the SS Milfoil out for the season. We get many responses; it is almost overwhelming at times to see how many caring people we have in our community. Anyone interested in our Updates, can request them through our MLA website, attention Milfoil Team. Our system of locating and removing the plants has been very effective. We believe that because we have been aggressive on our fight against milfoil and have kept ahead of it, we are seeing great results. We owe our success to all our volunteers. In addition to our all-volunteer Milfoil Team, we have people with boats, canoes, kayaks, and people who snorkel and/or walk the shores looking for milfoil. Educational fliers have been printed and distributed to many, including all Enfield, NH taxpayers. Also, information about fish aquarium milfoil sold under other names, such as "cabomba" and "parrots feather" is shared. As we educate the people and equip them to know what to look for, the interest grows and more become involved. All of us are making every possible effort to work "Together as One" to preserve our Lake Mascoma.
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Mascoma Lake AssociationPO Box 9Enfield New Hampshire mla@mascomalakeassociation.org |