Help defend lakes and ponds from invasive plants!
Coastal Rivers is looking for a few volunteers to join the Courtesy Boat Inspection crew. Courtesy Boat Inspectors are our first line of defense to ensure boats, trailers, and other gear are not introducing invasive species into local waterways. These trained volunteers will provide voluntary inspections on boats entering the Pemaquid and Biscay Ponds to help ensure that invasive plant species are removed before they can establish themselves in the water bodies.
Aquatic invasive plants are very successful at spreading from one fresh water body to another by “hitchhiking” on boats and trailers. Just a small piece of milfoil, for example, can develop into thick mats throughout an entire lake or pond and have a profound negative effect on water quality, ecology, and recreation.
A Courtesy Boat Inspection training for interested volunteers will take place on Friday, July 25th from 3:30 to 4:45pm at Coastal Rivers’ Denny Conservation and Education Center at Round Top Farm in Damariscotta.
After being trained, volunteers will schedule themselves by availability for two-hour slots on Fridays and weekends in August and September at either Biscay Beach or Pemaquid Pond boat launch in Nobleboro. Volunteers need to feel comfortable approaching boat owners and requesting permission to inspect the boat, trailer, anchor, prop and fishing gear for any invasive plants that may be present.
Registration is required. Please register using the form below.
