Coming Together To Protect Maine’s Lakes: Insights From Invasive Plant Patrol Trainees

Earlier this year, 46 new and seasoned conservationists participated in a workshop to learn about invasive aquatic plant species that crowd out native plants and threaten the health of the state’s lakes.

Led by two experts from Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM) — Brett Willard, Aquatic Invasive Species Program Director, and Christine Guerette, Programs Manager — the group examined 40 different aquatic plants. They used quick keys and field guides to spot the specific characteristics of invasives and distinguish them from native plants.

Their goal? To learn the skills needed to identify suspicious plants — and know what steps to take when they do.

Like previous Aquatic Invasive Species workshops LSM has offered, this one gathered a range of participants varying in age, skill level, and background. Some were handling plants for the first time, while others have been patrolling lakes for decades. Many regularly participate with lake associations across the state, and some have even taken leadership positions within those organizations.

Here are some snapshots of what these dedicated volunteers had to say about the importance of protecting Maine’s lakes — and how LSM’s workshop empowered them to do the work.

What inspired you to start volunteering?

“I’m concerned about invasive aquatic species getting into the lake that I live on, so I’m motivated to help identify those species for early prevention and detection. It’s a little scary when you’re out on the lake. I’m always worried I might miss something. That’s why I’m keen to expand my knowledge and abilities and become more familiar with the plants.”

“I started learning about milfoil in a health education class, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is something I could do in my own community to help and give back.’”

“For me, it was about review. There are always so many details that you have to look after, so I always like to have a refresher. We have some native milfoil down on our end of Parker Pond. I always look at it every single year.”

How did you feel about this work before and after the workshop?

“Before I came, I thought it might be easier to identify the plants, but it’s not. There’s a lot to it, and you really have to break things down step by step. The examples that they show are perfect. It’s a lot easier to learn with those examples than me trying to manipulate it all on my own.”

“I felt moderately confident about my skills, and after participating in the training, I feel a little more confident in identifying the invasive species. The more you look, the better you get.”

“I definitely picked up some good pointers and really good motivation. After taking pictures of the plants and going back to my books, I feel much better about it.”

Do you need to be a scientist to patrol for invasives?

“Not at all! The way Willard and Guerette present the information is very clear and practical. LSM’s webinar also has different sections on bladderworts and milfoil — I find those helpful as prework for workshops like this.”

“There are all kinds of people here, all ages and a range of abilities. The more confident people tend to say, ‘Well, I’ve been doing this for a long time.’ I think that really punctuates the importance of continuing to get out there on the lake and really look at these plants. I already had a set of tools or flashcards that helped me in my early training. But Lake Stewards of Maine, as a result of this enhanced training, will provide me with another set of tools that will only expand my abilities.”

“It kind of reminds me of yoga class, where one person might be doing crow pose while another person is doing child’s pose. It’s a difficult process, but if you can learn the 10-12 plants that are in your lake, you can do this work. You’ve got to kind of wade in and understand that you’re not going to get it all at once.”

“One of my sayings now is, ‘No one knows your dock better than you. If you see it, say it.’”

Why do you think this work is so important?

“It increases awareness. To have a turnout like this in the small town of Wayne is so impressive. It says a lot about where we’ve come in the past 10 or 15 years, and that’s exciting for me.”

“Keeping our lakes free of invasives is really important for helping maintain lake health and supporting the economy of our local community.”

“We all have a piece of the lake that we belong to, so it’s important for us all to do our part.”

“I think it’s really important work to try to protect our lakes. They can be completely ruined for recreation if these plants get going. The fact that we have people who are trained to eradicate the plants means there’s hope. There’s something we can do.”

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