Invasive Aquatic Plants

The volume and geographic scope of public waters screened for invasive aquatic plants have increased each year since the data has been collected.

Like a medical check-up by a physician, the surveillance of lakes for invasive aquatic plants by trained citizen scientists is one of the most meaningful lines of defense of water quality health, namely against the threat of aggressive non-native species. Since 2002, Maine DEP contractor Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program has trained thousands of volunteers and coordinated hundreds of monitoring efforts which have resulted in surveys of nearly eight percent of Maine?s approximately 6,000 ponds and lakes.

Contact: John McPhedran (207) 215-9863

Map showing surveyed lakes and known infestations. Chart showing cumulative screening activity

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