Invasive Plant ProgramInvasive plants are...
plants that don't belong in our pond. They arrive from people using an infested pond and transporting it to another pond - boats, boat trailers, water holds in boats, etc. Once established, these plants can easily overrun a pond, choking out native plants, fish and other organisms and affecting the delicate natural balance. Some ponds ~ not far from us ~ have spent millions of dollars trying to get rid of invasive milfoil and other plants. Once these plants are established, it is much more difficult to get rid of them. That's why we have our IPP team! Click here to download the poster shown below:
"Maine's Eleven Most Unwanted Invasive Aquatic Plants." |
IPP News - November 2023
As part of the 30 Mile River Watershed Association and Lake Stewards of Maine, volunteers from Flying Pond annually survey the lake to identify potentially invasive plants. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has labeled 12 invasive aquatic plants that pose a threat to Maine waters and relies on volunteers to detect potential infestations. Early detection is the key to eradicating invasive plants. Thanks to the efforts of 22 members of the Flying Pond Invasive Plant Patrol, we successfully completed our survey of the entire lake this summer. In order to accomplish this task, each member is assigned a section of the lake to inventory. We carefully paddle the shoreline identifying native plants and searching for any signs of the 12 invasive plants. The good news is that we did not find any invasive plants in Flying Pond. Other lakes in our watershed and nearby, however, have not been so fortunate. Eradication is very time consuming, difficult and expensive. So our IPP will be out again next summer surveying our lake in hopes that we can keep Flying Pond clean of invasive plants. The Flying Pond IPP is comprised of these community members - when you see them paddling around the lake next summer, please say thanks! Nancy Brooks, Marsha Clark, Gary Cortelyou, Gary Fish, Darlene Fontaine, Paul Fontaine, Peter Goffin, Jon Groetzinger, Donna Maskwa, Bill Murphy, Randy Oakley, Alice Olson, Cindy Ripley, Deb Roe, Bill Steinour,Pat Thompson, Beth Trehu, Stephen Trehu, Mary Viruleg, Jacque Ward, and John Zacker You can help too - if you see plants that might look like any of “most unwanted” or would like to volunteer you can contact John Zacker, IPP chair (301.938.3689 or [email protected]). |
Flying Pond NEEDS you!
Invasive Plant Monitors Needed!
Summer resident, vacationer, or year round - your pond needs help to keep it protected!
It's not hard - and the more "eyes on the pond" we have, the better we can protect it from invasive species. Invasive species are in MANY surrounding lakes....will you help us?
Contact Flying Pond IPP Coordinator for more information:
John Zacker
[email protected]
No suspicious plants have been found in our pond yet, fortunately. As more people use the pond and bring boats from other places, the risk increases.
The cost of having invasive plants is far more than financial!
Volunteering is not difficult - most areas can be inspected in one day per year or less.
Beginners join an experienced person to "learn the ropes". It's fun, a day out on the pond and helps all of us to keep our pond free of invasive plants.
Invasive Plant Monitors Needed!
Summer resident, vacationer, or year round - your pond needs help to keep it protected!
It's not hard - and the more "eyes on the pond" we have, the better we can protect it from invasive species. Invasive species are in MANY surrounding lakes....will you help us?
Contact Flying Pond IPP Coordinator for more information:
John Zacker
[email protected]
No suspicious plants have been found in our pond yet, fortunately. As more people use the pond and bring boats from other places, the risk increases.
The cost of having invasive plants is far more than financial!
Volunteering is not difficult - most areas can be inspected in one day per year or less.
Beginners join an experienced person to "learn the ropes". It's fun, a day out on the pond and helps all of us to keep our pond free of invasive plants.