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Milfoil Infestation, Mitigation, Eradication, Research & Education Initiative Lakes in the State of Maine January 19, 2008 I. Introduction: The Lakes of Maine: National Treasure Faces State-wide Threat Maine’s lakes are a true National Treasure and a key component of the State of Maine economy. However, there are threats to these statewide recreational assets, brought about by an increasing infestation of Maine’s lakes by an invasive species of plants that, if left unchecked, could lead to the destruction of Maine’s most beautiful natural resource. Specifically, the pristine lakes of Maine are threatened by the invasive plant milfoil that has been brought into state waters and is choking the life out of lakes that are home to thousands of recreational boaters, homeowners, and visitors to the State of Maine. The Little Sebago Lake Association (LSLA); Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine; the Maine Congress of Lake Associations (COLA); the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP), and a partnership of Maine lake citizens organizations dedicated to the protection of Maine’s lakes are presenting for the consideration of the U.S. Congress a three-year effort to launch an attack on the milfoil infestation threat to Maine’s lakes beginning in fiscal year 2009. Specifically, this representative team of Maine lake advocates and scientists will focus initial efforts on the milfoil infestation threat in Little Sebago Lake and six other lakes within the western, southern and central parts of Maine as a collective ‘test bed’ for the development of milfoil action plans for the mitigation and eradication of milfoil that can be applied to other infested lakes throughout the State of Maine. Each of these lakes, among other criteria, have robust citizen activity to mitigate the milfoil threat to their lakes, have established milfoil populations that pose high risk of spread to other waters, and provide a significant representative sample of the milfoil infestation problem in Maine’s infested lakes. The proposal set forth by this broadly representative consortium of engaged organizations is particularly important as a proactive effort to develop an action template to contain the milfoil threat before it escalates to attack the thousands of other lakes in the State, as it has in neighboring New Hampshire and Vermont. A consortium consisting of Saint Joseph’s College, the Maine Congress of Lake Association, the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, Little Sebago Lake Association, the Lakes Environmental Association, and Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed is recommending a total of $4,000,000 over three years to address the milfoil threat in the State - $150,000 from the State of Maine; $800,000 in competitive Federal grants; a minimum of $250,000 in private sector donations and a targeted Federal appropriation of $2,800,000 through the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations bill beginning in fiscal year 2009. The funding proposed for this initiative will address the milfoil infestation threat in Little Sebago Lake; Sebago Lake; and five additional ‘test bed lakes’ through a focused program, consisting of: (1) prevention - through education, technical assistance, and training; (2) research and development; and (3) milfoil management, mitigation, and eradication through the direct application of existing ‘best practices’ and new approaches to halting the spread of this invasive species in Little Sebago Lake, Sebago Lake, and the other five “test bed” lakes in western, southern and central Maine. In the second phase of the three-year effort, other lakes identified as ‘infested’ will be addressed, utilizing the model developed in the seven-lake test bed. The five additional ‘test bed lakes’ and the other identified infested lakes to be addressed over the three year period, will be selected through an open and analytical process, by a Steering Committee consisting of Saint Joseph’s College, The Maine Congress of Lake Associations, the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, the Little Sebago Lake Association the Lakes Environmental Association, and Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection will be an advisory member of the Steering Committee. II. Invasive Species: A Nationally Identified Threat to the United States As stated in an October, 2002 General Accountability Office report to Executive Branch agency officials (GAO-03-01): ‘invasive species—harmful, nonnative plants, animals and microorganisms—are found throughout the United States, causing damage to crops, rangelands, waterways, and other ecosystems that is estimated in the billions of dollars annually…. Conservation biologists rank invasive species as the second most serious threat to endangered species after habitat destruction. Overall, scientists academicians, and industry leaders are recognizing invasive species as one of the most serious environmental threats of the twenty-first century”. (P.1, letter to Secretary of Agriculture; Secretary of Interior and Secretary of Commerce, October 22, 2002) According to a May, 2005 article entitled ‘The Economic Roots of Aquatic Species Invasions’ in the Economic Growth Forum, Vol. 30 No. 5 of Fisheries magazine, the economic costs of invading alien species in the United States alone come close to $120 billion per year. A paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, Bar Harbor, Maine, in June of 2000 estimates the cost could be as high as $138 billion a year. (“An Hedonic Analysis of the Effects of an Exotic Invader Myriophyllumj heterophyllum) on New Hampshire Lakefront Properties”, John M. Halstead, Jodi Michaud, Shanna Hallas-Burt, and Julie P. Gibbs). This same study report of New Hampshire invasive species infestation, identified the threat of milfoil to the 1,000 lakes in the State of New Hampshire, citing that variable milfoil can clog water bodies, cause boating and swimming hazards, and crowd out native species, threatening the ecosystems and dropping property values on infested lakes by 16% and threatening State and local tax revenues. A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation press release on November 23, 2007 noted that $1,400,000 had been set aside by the Department to launch a milfoil infestation attack in 30 municipalities and organizations on a number of aquatic invasive species, including nearly $900,000 or 64% to eradicate Eurasian water milfoil. More importantly, an October 10, 2002 “State of Maine Action Plan for Managing Invasive Aquatic Species” drafted for the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species, stated that invasive species promise serious biological and socio-economic impacts, because they: · displace native species filling same ecologic niche; · reduce biodiversity; · disrupt food webs; · degrade habitats; · suppress property values and drain public coffers; · impair commercial fishing and aquaculture; · degrade recreational experiences; · impair public water supplies · threaten native fish populations and spoil sport fisheries; · degrade coastal infrastructure; clog or foul pipes and drainage ditches; and · threaten public health The 2002 Invasive Aquatic Species Action Plan noted that Maine’s first aggressive submerged aquatic plant invader, variable milfoil, has spread to more than 10 lakes. Variable milfoil infestations are now documented in 25 Maine water bodies. The Plan also set forth four goals that were the nucleus of the Maine State Action Plan: · educate the public and people involved in business, trade, research and government so well about invasive aquatic species that they do not facilitate the introduction or spread of species through activities over which they have control; · prevent new introductions of invasive aquatic species into the state to the extent possible; · limit the spread of established populations to other waters of the state; and · reduce the harmful effects resulting from infestations of invasive aquatic species by managing those that cannot be eradicated. We are pleased to report that the proposal put forth by our consortium is designed to develop a “template” for attacking the milfoil infestation problem consistent with these four goals of the Maine State Action Plan. The proposal will also have significant applied research and development; education and outreach; and development of a model infestation control plan components - all of which are identified in the Maine State Action Plan as priority objectives. The State of Maine legislature has enacted two major pieces of legislation to attack the invasive aquatic plant problem facing the State, including an Act to Prevent Infestation of Invasive Aquatic Plants and to Control Other Invasive Species (Chapter 434), that established a boat sticker program to raise funds and public awareness for the prevention, detection and control of invasive species and to establish an inspection and education program. The proposal is intended to augment, not supplant, the Maine State sticker program, to accelerate the mitigation of milfoil infestation in the seven ‘test bed lakes’ chosen for this project, and to enhance the education and outreach programs incorporated in the 2002 Maine State Action Plan. Also, our proposal is designed to raise public awareness about the threat of milfoil infestation to our lakes, and to formulate comprehensive plans for each of the seven targeted lakes to attack the milfoil problem through education, research, and mitigation leading to containment and, where possible, eradication. A further intent is to integrate findings from this initiative in an “Action Template” for lake resident citizen groups (lake associations) in Maine and elsewhere as a blueprint for rapid response and invasive plant management . In summary, it is clear that the goals and objectives set forth in the Action Plan for Managing Invasive Aquatic Species and those assumed in our proposal are consistent and compatible. At the same time, it is clear that new data, new approaches, and new initiatives will be needed to update the approaches set forth in the Maine State Action Plan. We note that the October 10, 2002 Maine State Action Plan assumed funding allocations of $1,563,664. We believe that our proposal is an appropriate augmentation to the State Plan resource allocation assumptions, and will contribute in a significant way to attacking the milfoil component of the State Action Plan, beginning in fiscal year 2009. III: The Milfoil Threat to Little Sebago Lake and other Lakes in the State of Maine. Not only do milfoil and other invasive aquatic species threaten the ecosystems of Maine’s lake network, they pose a direct threat to the $3.5 billion that the Maine lake recreation, boating, and fisheries/tourism industry generates in the State of Maine each year. Milfoil, if left unchecked, could also continue to threaten the property values of thousands of property owners who live both year round and seasonally on Maine’s lakes. Of equal importance, this threat to property values poses a secondary threat to tax revenues in a State that is already faced with rigid budget problems. As stated earlier, Little Sebago Lake, Sebago Lake, and five additional ‘test bed lakes’ will be the focus of the initial phase of this three year period, with additional identified, infested lakes to be selected by a Steering Committee and addressed with resources made available over the course of this three year proposal period. However, the situation facing these lakes is symptomatic of an impending infestation that can and must be mitigated with a citizen action plan before it overwhelms the Herculean efforts of citizens groups with their limited, largely private resources. Little Sebago Lake Little Sebago board members and home owners began to hear about the impending threat of invasive plants to Little Sebago Lake in the early 1990s. This 2009 acre lake with a mean depth of 16 feet saw its first infestation in 1999. An unfamiliar rapidly spreading plant was identified growing in shallow water in Mumford Cove. By September of 2001, milfoil had undergone explosive growth in Mumford Cove, infesting nearly three-quarters of the cove. LSLA efforts commenced to acquire permits for the hand removal of milfoil from Mumford Cove, but soon discovered a second large infestation of milfoil in Beaver Cove. By 2003, surveys had been commissioned and university analysis conducted showing that a hybrid form of variable milfoil never seen in Maine, had infested large parts of Little Sebago Lake, and hand removal of milfoil continued. In 2003 LSLA created the state’s first suction dredge at a cost of $17,000, for materials with hundreds of donated hours spent on creation and fabrication. This milfoil removal dredge is the prototype for others being developed in the state. To date LSLA has removed 22 tons of milfoil at a cost of $5400 per ton. Additional surveys from 2005 to the present, have clearly demonstrated that, despite Herculean efforts by ‘the Variable Milfoil Militia’ armed with limited equipment and even more limited financial resources, the time has arrived for a robust attack on the milfoil infestation in Little Sebago Lake and priority parts of other lakes in the State of Maine. Sebago Lake: Raymond This 30,513 acre lake is the public water supply for the Greater Portland area. The mean depth is 107 feet and includes the towns of Casco, Naples, Raymond, Sebago Standish and Windham. There are 12 known colonies mapped by the Portland Water District and milfoil has been present since 1970. The town of Raymond created an association called the Raymond Waterways Protective Association to monitor its milfoil infestation. They have a formal 5 year written plan which has been submitted to the DEP. There is a high threat of plant transfer to other lakes due to the public boat launch in the area. In 2006, 23 fragments were found outgoing and 2 incoming. 2,023 boats were inspected in 2006. There is a high potential for internal spread in the marina area which is in Raymond. A survey has been done by volunteers but the whole shoreline of Raymond has not been surveyed. The association has it 501c3 status and has the ability to meet match requirements. Sebago Lake: Sebago Cove Save Sebago Cove (SSC) is a non profit organization that was established with the hope and conviction of making a difference in the battle against Milfoil. It consists of nine Board of Directors comprised of residents, non-residents, waterfront and non-waterfront concerned property owners whose biggest asset is being caring hard working volunteers. The Board of Directors head the effort implementing an aggressive action plan which will consist of public education, fundraising and applying for grants to support our efforts. Benthic barriers and hand removal have been their primary methods, implemented by individuals trained by the VLMP. Sebago Cove is a beautiful 200 acre body of water in Sebago Lake where this non-native invasive plant, variable leaf milfoil, is currently taking over, to the extent that it threatens the cove’s very survival. If this aquatic plant if left untreated it will ultimately render the cove unsuitable for all recreational activities. The SSC organization is battling this invasive plant with the goal of minimizing its existence and stopping the spread around Sebago and all Maine Lakes. We hope to preserve its natural beauty for this generation and many more to come, so they also may enjoy the wonders of all Maine Lakes. Sebago Lake: Brandy Pond Brandy Pond has four small infestation sites that have been addressed with hand pulling and barriers over the past three years. It is highly vulnerable to infestation from heavy boat traffic from Sebago Lake and the Songo River. Songo River The upper Songo River, above the historic locks, has been the subject of barriers, hand harvesting and suction harvesting for four years and significant progress has been made on this 3-acre infestation. Suction harvesting will continue annually. IV: The Proposal The Proposal is intended to implement a two-prong, three-year initiative to aggressively attack the milfoil threat to lakes throughout the State of Maine, focusing over this period on those lakes where the threat is most acute. The first phase of the three-year program will target resources on the development of a seven-lake ‘test bed’ where best practices, approaches and analysis will be applied and evaluated to develop a milfoil action template that will be made available to citizen groups in the State of Maine and elsewhere. While the focus of the first phase of the proposal is on the development of the seven-lake ‘test bed’ to attack milfoil in those lakes, two of Maine’s preeminent lake conservancy groups—the Maine Congress of Lake Associations (COLA) and the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP) will immediately coordinate a robust, open and analytical process through a Steering Committee, to identify (1) the other five ‘test bed lakes’ to be addressed in the first phase of the proposal; and (2) those additional lakes beyond the seven, that would be targeted for assistance beyond fiscal year 2009. The criteria utilized in determining the initial seven-lake test bed shall form the core criteria to be used by the Steering Committee in selecting the remaining lakes to be assisted. All participating organizations are expected to apply their collective years of expertise and knowledge in a consensual process to identify additional infested Maine lakes which will receive financial assistance under the second part of this three year proposal. The lakes selected by the Steering Committee analytical review will be the primary focus of both earmarked and competitive funding. The core criteria to be applied to the selection of the additional five ‘test bed lakes’ and the other infested Maine lakes will include: · Measurable one-year, three-year, and long-term objectives of their remediation effort · Heightened threat level to other lakes (i.e. risk of plant transfer) as measured by: (a) Courtesy Boat Inspector records at public access sites on the lake where remediation is planned; (b) Number of invasive plant fragments found on existing boats, records from as many years as the program has been running; · (c) Number of boats inspected each year the CBI Program has been in operation for each public access site on the lake.Potential for internal spread as measured by Invasive Plant Patrol Surveys performed by trained IPP volunteers or independent surveyor (i.e. university, private contractor); (a) Survey level (Tier 1,2,3) (b) Date (c) Results or (d) Data points. · Fiscal agent or 501(c)(3) status and; Capacity to meet ‘private donation’ or matching requirements. The additional five ‘test bed lakes’ shall be selected by the Steering Committee by no later than May 1, 2008. The final group of additional Maine lakes to be addressed in the outyears of the proposal shall be selected by the Steering Committee by no later than March 1, 2009 The Initial Phase of the proposal seeks to implement existing, proven plans and proven techniques to mitigate the milfoil threat to Maine lakes, while developing new, innovative, science-based, cost-effective approaches to attacking the milfoil threat in the seven ‘test-bed lakes’ in the western, central and southern parts of the State of Maine. Specifically, a milfoil action plan will be developed for Little Sebago Lake, Sebago Lake, and the five other infested ‘test bed lakes’ in the State of Maine, with the funds made available over the next three fiscal years. Again, these seven lakes will effectively serve as a ‘test bed’ or demonstration platform for applying all of the existing and new approaches to educating and training the recreational boating community and homeowners on the threat of milfoil, and to commencing a broad milfoil mitigation and management initiative to attack milfoil in the Sebago Lake Region and other regions of the State of Maine. The Second Phase of the proposal would apply the lessons learned and ‘best practices’ for attacking the milfoil threat, to the other infested lakes identified and selected by the Steering Committee. The State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection would also be included in the deliberations of the Steering Committee to ensure close coordination with the Governor’s efforts to address the milfoil threat through other existing Maine anti-milfoil programs. The linchpin of both phases of the proposal is to bring volunteers, institutions of higher education, citizen lake landowners, fishermen, boaters, campers, State, local, and Federal legislators and leaders into a unified effort to attack this environmental threat to Little Sebago, Sebago Lake, and other infested lakes in the State of Maine, consistent with the goals and objectives set forth in the most recent Maine State Action Plan on aquatic invasive species. The proposal research team would be led by Saint Joseph’s College and the Little Sebago Lake Association. The Steering Committee will be co-chaired by the Maine Congress of Lake Associations and the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, and include Saint Joseph’s College, Little Sebago Lake Association, the Lakes Environmental Association and Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed. Steering Committee decisions will be governed by an open, democratic, and consensual process throughout the Initial, Second and later phases of this initiative. The Portland Water District will also be invited to participate in the project plans as a major stakeholder in this important milfoil infestation mitigation initiative. The consortium that will be carrying out this proposal will rely heavily on the expertise and outstanding missions of all participating organizations to provide timely guidance and input throughout the three-year life of this important milfoil mitigation project. Specifically, the proposal envisions a multi-pronged approach to the development of citizen action plans that can be utilized to attack the milfoil problem at not only the seven ‘test bed lakes’, but ultimately state-wide among all of the documented 28 infested Maine lakes and others that may require assistance. Those components will include: · Plans and contingencies to contain and reduce existing freshwater plant infestations, through ‘best practices’ identified by the consortium of participants in this project · Accelerated education and outreach, including a strengthening of the watercraft inspection program for freshwaters focusing on high priority locations, times and vehicles, including public boat launching facility inspection · Research on new approaches for the mitigation of milfoil and data collection to update milfoil infestation threats in the other ‘test bed lakes’ and provide a clearinghouse for the data obtained in the three year period covered by the proposal. Saint Joseph’s College, in partnership with the Little Sebago Lake Association, will serve as the Project Manager for this three-year assault on the milfoil threat to the lakes in the State of Maine. The Steering Committee partners will serve as a catalyst for the education, research, and milfoil management components of the proposal, and for establishing an action template for the containment and control of milfoil infestations that will be made available for use by citizen groups in Maine and elsewhere. The proposal calls for a total of $4,000,000 to be made available to combat the milfoil threat to Maine lakes, through a combination of State and Federal Government funding; private sector donations; and continued hands-on volunteer action teams to develop and implement plans to manage milfoil in Little Sebago Lake, Sebago Lake, and heavily infested parts of the five other infested ‘test bed lakes’ and other lakes in western, southern and central Maine. Within the $4,000,000 of aggregate funding, the proposal calls for a total of $2,800,000 in targeted Federal appropriations over the period of fiscal year 2009 to 2011, a portion of which would be utilized by Saint Joseph’s College to organize a three-year milfoil management applied research/technical assistance initiative in Little Sebago Lake, Sebago Lake, and the five other ‘test bed lakes.’ Also within this aggregate funding, $300,000 would be made available to the Maine Congress of Lake Associations and the Volunteer Lake Management Program to launch a comprehensive and robust education, technical assistance, and training program in order to foster future milfoil infestation containment, control and eradication. Maine COLA will also be charged to build the capacity of lake associations and alliances whose focus lakes are threatened by invasive plant infestations. The proposal also calls for an additional $800,000 to be made available to this multi-lake effort to develop plans for milfoil management at the Little Sebago, Sebago, the other five ‘test bed lakes’, and the final set of other identified infested lakes, through competitive Federal grants under the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act, authored by Maine Senator Susan Collins in 2003 and other clean water grant programs within the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. Furthermore, it is assumed that another $150,000 in funding will be provided over three years by the State of Maine through a combination of grants, contracts, and/or in-kind contributions, in order to allow the consortia to lead a comprehensive effort to attack the milfoil infestation problem head on at the seven ‘test bed lakes and the other lakes identified for action in the proposal. Finally, the proposal requires that $250,000 would be raised through private donations from members of the Little Sebago Lake Association and lake associations for the other six infested ‘test bed lakes’ over the same three-year period. The additional infested lakes selected by the Steering Committee would also be expected to raise private funds over and above the initial $250,000 to contribute to the overall focus of the three-year milfoil mitigation program contained in this proposal. Again, the combination of Federal, State, and private funding will total $4,000,000 and represents the most comprehensive assault on the milfoil infestation threat to Little Sebago Lake, Sebago Lake and other Maine lakes in the State’s history. The following entities would be the key participants in this broad-based initiative to manage milfoil in the State of Maine, starting with Little Sebago Lake, Sebago Lake, and five other ‘test bed lakes’ in western, central and southern Maine. Little Sebago Lake Association The Little Sebago Lake Association (LSLA) has consistently led the fight to manage milfoil infestation in Little Sebago Lake and has been a leader in the mobilization of private resources to not only pull milfoil from the lake but to educate boaters, recreation organizations, and campground owners about the need to take preventative measures to attack milfoil before it takes root in sections of the lake. It also created the first suction dredge of its kind in the state for milfoil removal. At the same time, while Little Sebago Lake and the six additional ‘test bed lakes’ will be a key focus of the proposed three-year attack on milfoil in Maine lakes, the LSLA and Saint Joseph’s College will coordinate efforts with other lake citizen associations for a multi-lake approach to mitigating the infestation of milfoil that already exists and for preventing future infestation of this invasive species of plant in Little Sebago and among the other ‘test bed lakes’ in the State. The LSLA will assist the Project Manager, Saint Joseph’s College, in administering this three-year proposal to launch a concentrated attack on milfoil infestation mitigation, control, and eradication in Little Sebago Lake, Sebago Lake, and the five other lakes serving as the laboratory for the project, and to help to coordinate all other efforts among the proposal participants to implement a plan to address milfoil infestation in the lakes. Saint. Joseph’s College – Standish, Maine Located on the shores of Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine, Saint Joseph’s College is one of four private liberal arts colleges in Maine and the state’s only Catholic college. It enrolls nearly 1,100 students in its Four-Year Program offered on campus and over 2,000 adult part-time students in its distance program, known as Graduate and Professional Studies. Saint Joseph’s is dedicated to providing educational access to students from Maine, and admits a large population of students from Maine. In 2007-08, 55% of the students in its Four-Year Program were from its home state—a population as large as the combined number of Maine students at Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby. Nearly half of the graduates from the College’s Four-Year Program remain in Maine, and a third live and work in Greater Portland. In its Four-Year Program Saint Joseph’s offers 28 majors in the liberal arts and sciences and professional areas. It emphasizes a strong core that is enriched by service learning, which provides students with academic credit as they work with community partners (schools and area agencies) to solve local problems. Conserving Sebago Lake—Portland’s Public Water Supply Located on Sebago Lake, the watershed for greater Portland’s water supply, Saint Joseph’s College has long promoted environmental awareness among its staff, faculty, and students. We have invested both institutional and grant resources in faculty-student research that raises the awareness of the local community about conservation of this pristine natural resource. For nearly two decades Saint Joseph’s has enjoyed a strong relationship with Portland Water District, and has provided valuable research data to the Water District while sponsoring public education activities for students from public schools in the Lakes Region that emphasize conservation of this precious natural resource. Since 2003 every student in the College has been required to enroll in the course, ES 300: Ecology and the Environmental Challenge. The new Environmental Field Station planned for opening in fall 2009 will provide every student with practical research opportunities connected with Sebago Lake, other local bodies of water, and Casco Bay. In the fall of 2007 a campus-wide “Attainable Sustainable” campaign was launched to promote student education on the connections between personal choices and the sustaining of the environment. Service to Maine CommunitiesSaint Joseph’s College is an educational resource for all of the communities of the Lakes Region, including Standish, Sebago, Steep Falls, West Gray, Windham, Raymond, Casco, Naples, and Bridgton—an area with a population of 40,000 and a median household income below $45,000. In addition, it has for over a decade pursued an active service partnership with Portland Housing Authority, providing tutoring, mentoring, and college preparation to immigrant students in subsidized housing. Through Campus Ministry and service learning programs, Saint Joseph’s students dedicate over 30,000 hours per year to the needs of over 40 community agencies and schools. Linking Research and Service With the Solution to Local and National Problems The College has pursued successful collaborative relationships with other institutions and municipal agencies to provide its students with opportunities for hands-on research on practical local problems. In addition to its ongoing work with Portland Water District, science faculty are engaged in ground-breaking research on problems that affect Maine’s fisheries, including current projects dealing with the prediction and management of red tides, the mortality of juvenile bivalves, and the predation of mussels grown in aquaculture. Collaborators include the University of Maine, Bowdoin College, and the Friends of Casco Bay. Most importantly, this impressive institution of higher education will provide a unique combination of students, faculty, researchers, laboratory resources, and student manpower to help in the analysis of how best to mange milfoil in Little Sebago and other lakes in the Region, and to develop long term plans for attacking this invasive plant species and to prevent its reproduction. The college has undergraduate programs in Environmental Science, Marine Science and Environmental Studies. Furthermore, Saint Joseph’s College gives great weight to community service, including practical work in the environmental area, as evidenced from this excerpt from the Saint Joseph’s College website: “Opportunities for growth are not limited to the classroom but extend into the neighboring communities. Students can earn academic credits by applying what they learn in the classroom to real-world service. Through service learning projects, students volunteer at food pantries, work with senior citizen health issues, help Habitat for Humanity, explore environmental issues in the nearby Casco Bay and Sebago Lake, and tutor low-income students and immigrants in reading. In a recent academic year, more than 480 students participated in service learning projects at 40 community sites.” The milfoil infestation research and management program presented in this memorandum would be an outstanding opportunity for undergraduate students and faculty to participate in a pragmatic, vital environmental/water quality initiative on the very lake that is home to the campus of Saint Joseph’s College; neighboring Little Sebago Lake and the other ‘test bed lakes’. A portion of the funding assumed in this proposal would be used for stipends for students and faculty to participate in summer efforts to remove milfoil from both lakes; to participate in education and outreach programs; and to conduct research on variable water milfoil. A portion of the aggregate funding received under this proposal over a three year period, would go to Saint Joseph College, for a marine/freshwater laboratory at the College’s Standish campus; direct, hands-on research; and student-faculty work on the plan recommended in this proposal. Saint Joseph’s College would also help formulate a series of Regional Research and Clearinghouse “Pods”, at other colleges or universities in the State of Maine that will serve as future ‘centers of excellence’ and data ‘libraries’ for use by the State of Maine, lake citizens organizations, and other lake advocacy organizations, as they join forces to sustain the attack on milfoil once the three-year proposal work has been completed. Saint Joseph’s College would also coordinate a statewide effort to identify a team of experts to carry out the competitive Federal grant component of this proposal and would take the lead role in the administration of the targeted Federal appropriations requested in this proposal. Maine Congress of Lake Associations (COLA) Maine COLA is a statewide, nonprofit 501(c)3 membership organization dedicated to protecting Maine’s 6,000 high value lakes. Maine COLA communicates lake issues to lawmakers and the public, assists citizen lake associations and alliances, and works to maintain the $3.5 billion economic value and inestimable cultural benefits these assets provide Maine residents, businesses, and visitors each year. It is the only statewide network of individuals, lake associations and alliances devoted solely to the protection and preservation of Maine lakes. Protecting water quality and promoting sound land-use practices are objectives COLA has had throughout its 37-year history. COLA works closely with Maine’s natural resource agencies, principally the Departments of Environmental Protection, Conservation, and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and state programs such as Beginning with Habitat, Maine Nonpoint Source Education for Municipal Officials, municipal conservation commissions, and nonprofit conservation organizations such as Maine Audubon, and the Natural Resources Council of Maine to achieve this objective. COLA serves as a conduit for transmitting best practices and practical applications from these and other public and private resources to the general public and to decion-makers at state and local levels. COLA’s clearing house function is realized through COLA’s website, quarterly newsletter and other publications, maintenance of a toll-free LakeLine, COLA’s public advocacy, and COLA’s Annual Maine Lakes Conference which brings lay persons and lake professionals together for presentations and workshops on emerging lake science and lake stewardship methods, resources and programs. COLA’s stated purposes are: · To provide a communication network and coordinating structure for lake-related projects and issues; · To assist and to build the capacity of volunteer citizen organizations dedicated to protecting the water quality of Maine lakes and ponds and to preserving their assets for future generations. · To provide a clearinghouse of environmental information pertaining to lake management; · To provide a pool of technical knowledge and expertise to advise and assist members; · To promote through education the appreciation and wise use of Maine lakes; · To promote boating and water safety; · To establish liaisons with other environmental groups and agencies; · To monitor and report to members on legislation and administrative actions affecting Maine lakes. · To advocate and support legislation and administrative actions, which promote sound lake management. The Natural Resources Council of Maine(NRCM) recognized Maine COLA’s Executive Director for outstanding contributions to conservation in Maine by awarding her NRCM’s second annual People’s Choice Award in November, 2007. Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP) The Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP), formed in 1971, is the longest standing citizen lake monitoring program in the U.S., and the largest provider of scientific lake data in the State of Maine. Several hundred certified volunteers currently monitor more than 500 lakes through the VLMP. The VLMP mission is: To foster stewardship of Maine’s lakes and their watersheds, to insure high water quality and ecological integrity. This is to be accomplished by the collection of credible lake data by trained citizen volunteers, and by providing educational material to the citizens of Maine. The wide range of data collected by VLMP volunteers is the cornerstone of the foundation of knowledge for Maine lakes. Data collected by the VLMP strengthens watershed education and conservation initiatives, and helps motivate positive action toward the protection and restoration of Maine lakes. The VLMP works in close collaboration with a broad array of entities and individuals who are focused on Maine lakes, including state agencies, such as the Maine Departments of Environmental Protection and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Maine Natural Areas Program, public water utilities, including the Maine Water Utilities Association, the Portland Water District and the Auburn Water District, educational institutions, including the University of Maine and Unity College, regional lake conservation organizations, including Lakes Environmental Association and others including individual lake associations and watershed conservation groups, community planners, private citizens, and businesses. In response to the growing threat to Maine waters by invasive aquatic flora and fauna, the VLMP formed the Maine Center for Invasive Aquatic Plants (MCIAP) in 2003. MCIAP was created to provide a citizen-based front line in the battle to protect Maine waters from aquatic invaders. MCIAP provides a wide range of training and networking opportunities, technical services and resources to support active public participation in the statewide effort to prevent the spread of aquatic invaders through prevention, early detection and rapid response to infestations. MCIAP’s Invasive Plant Patrol Program (IPP) is widely recognized as one of the most comprehensive and successful training programs of its kind in the country. Nearly all of the aquatic invaders now known to be present in Maine were first detected by alert and informed volunteers. MCIAP has played a critical role in raising public awareness about the threat of aquatic invaders in Maine Its Mission is to provide protection for the nearly 6,000 lakes in Maine through the acquisition of scientific data, and to raise public awareness about the extraordinary ecological, aesthetic and economic value of Maine lakes and ponds. Volunteers come from all walks of life and are of all ages. Many have been with the program for over twenty years. Every summer, hundreds of certified volunteer lake monitors throughout the state collect valuable scientific data to: · Define and characterize Maine lakes · Assist towns in developing protective standards for their lakes · Provide information for educational purposes to schools, lake associations, and municipalities · Provide water quality information to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Congress, Universities, Lake associations, towns, and many other organizations interested in the water quality of Maine lakes The VLMP is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to the collection of information pertaining to lake water quality. For 35 years, trained volunteers throughout Maine have donated their time so that we may all learn more about one of Maine’s most beautiful and important resources – our lakes. The COLA and VLMP will coordinate the key education component described above of the three-year initiative and will receive $300,000 of the aggregate $4,000,000 requested, to carry out a new milfoil education, training and technical assistance programs among the seven ‘test bed lake’ associations, boating and recreation organizations, and the general public. These important Maine organizations will further assist those who already have infestations with documented actions plans provided by the research and implementation of this proposed three-year initiative. Portland Water District Finally, it is evident that the water quality of Sebago Lake is essential to the work of the Portland Water District, as it supplies drinking water to the citizens of Portland, Maine and other jurisdictions. Therefore, it is envisioned that officials of the Portland Water District and the seven towns in Sebago’s direct watershed, would be active participants in development of the working plans established by the primary partners in this milfoil mitigation program. V: Budget Plan for Milfoil Infestation Education, Research and Management Program As previously stated, Saint Joseph’s College in partnership with the Little Sebago Lake Association, will lead a multi-part proposal for obtaining the requisite funding to cover the additional resources required to undertake the milfoil education, research and management components of the proposal. (a) Pursue State of Maine funding through the Governor and State legislature to allow for milfoil management in highest priority areas of greatest infestation in Little Sebago and the other six ‘test bed lakes’: $150,000 over three years (b) Pursue Competitive Grant Funding through the Department of the Interior; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; EPA; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, under programs authorized in the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act and other water quality legislation (EPA) $800,000 (c) Obtain private donations from lake homeowners on Little Sebago Lake and at the other ‘test bed lakes’ benefiting from this proposal, and/or private foundations $250,000 over three years (d) Pursue targeted Federal/Congressional appropriations through the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for each of the next three fiscal years: $2,800,000 between FY 2009-2011 Total 3-Year Funding Proposed (FY ’09-’11): $4,000,000 FISCAL YEAR 2009 FEDERAL APPROPRIATION REQUEST To begin the three-year initiative, a fiscal year 2009 Congressional appropriation of $1,250,000 is requested within the budget of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The $1,250,000 will be allocated among the key components of the proposal, including an appropriate level of overhead at Saint Joseph’s College to cover a portion of the costs of administering these grant and contract funds. Specifically, the funding requested for fiscal year 2009 would be proposed for allocation as follows: · $350,000 for Saint Joseph’s College for one-time marine/freshwater laboratory funding and funding for administration of research, development, and ‘test bed development’ for seven lakes identified in first year of proposal; · $150,000 for education, outreach, training assistance from Maine Congress of Lake Associations and Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program; · $225,000 for equipment for milfoil mitigation and eradication; · $525,000 for direct assistance to lake citizen group efforts to combat milfoil in seven lakes identified in proposal. TOTAL: $1,250,000 OTHER FISCAL YEAR 2009 FUNDING INITIATIVES BY PROPOSAL TEAM Competitive Grants, FY 2008 In addition to the targeted appropriations sought from the U.S. Congress, the milfoil proposal team, led by Saint Joseph’s College and the Little Sebago Lake Association, will coordinate the development of one or more proposals for competitive fiscal year 2008 applied research/technical assistance grants from the Environmental Protection Agency; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and/or other appropriate Federal Executive Branch agencies. These grants would be used to assist the seven-lake citizens organizations and Saint Joseph’s College to accelerate the development of milfoil action plans, strategies, and eradication efforts, beginning in the current fiscal year that began on October 1, 2007 and ends September 30, 2008. The milfoil mitigation team is seeking the assistance of the Maine Congressional delegation and the State of Maine in the pursuit of these competitive grants. These grants will be pursued in partnership with the Governor of Maine and the Department of Environmental Protection in the State of Maine, and experts among other institutions of higher education in the State of Maine. Private Sector Fundraising and Contributions: In addition to the pursuit of targeted appropriations for fiscal year 2009 and competitive Federal grants, lake citizen group organizations representing the initial seven-lake ‘test bed’ and the other identified lakes, will be required, as a condition of receiving Federal assistance, to engage in private fundraising activities to meet the private sector donation component of the proposal. A level of $250,000 has been set as a minimum ‘floor’ for such private sector funding under this proposal. Such private sector fundraising may include seeking private foundation resources, township funding, or other non-Federal, non-state funding, to augment the Federal and State funding components of the proposal plans. State of Maine Funding: The State of Maine has taken extensive steps to address the milfoil threat to Maine lakes, through its Boat Sticker program and other measures put forth by the Governor and his Department of Environmental Protection. Already, the State of Maine program has dedicated over $50,000 per year for milfoil remediation. It is anticipated that the State of Maine will help identify up to an additional $50,000 a year to accelerate the fight against milfoil. The Steering Committee will work with the Governor and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to help achieve this state-based component of the plan. In summary, this multi-faceted approach to attacking the milfoil threat to Maine lakes, will have many partners and if fully funded will constitute the most significant assault on an invasive aquatic threat to Maine lakes in the state’s history. |
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