By Mary Jewett

Lakes Environmental Association

Jaden Poulin, a boat inspector working for the Lakes Environmental Association, found a suspicious plant fragment on a pontoon boat entering Moose Pond in Denmark on the Fourth of July.

The boater told Jaden that they had previously been in Sebago Lake. Jaden contacted Mary Jewett at LEA and sent her a photo of the plant he had found. Mary recognwized it as milfoil and asked Jaden to bring the sample to the LEA office in Bridgton.

There are several native species of milfoil found in Maine lakes, so to be absolutely sure this was invasive Mary brought the sample to St. Joseph’s College, where Dr. Lucas Bernacki was able to perform a genetic test to determine what species of milfoil was found. After a week at the lab, it was determined that the plant Jaden had removed was Variable Leaf Milfoil, an invasive aquatic plant that has plagued Sebago Lake and surrounding waterbodies, for years.

This is a huge win for Jaden, LEA and the community. Moose Pond is a very popular lake and an invasive plant infestation there could be devastating. When asked how he felt about the save Jaden said this: “My family has been on Moose Pond for generations. I am so happy to be a part of keeping such a special place to us, and everyone else, safe and healthy for everyone to enjoy.”

LEA is lucky to have Jaden, and all dedicated Courtesy Boat Inspectors, working to protect the area’s lakes.

As valuable as the CBI program is, this situation brings into focus something that LEA has been concerned about for years. Jaden asked an important question: what if he hadn’t been there when that boat entered? What if they had decided to go in earlier in the day, before an inspector was there? With the increased boat traffic, combined with a beautiful sunny growing season, it is even more essential that boaters check their own watercrafts before launching. If there isn’t an inspector on duty, people should be doing it themselves. And if there is an inspector, they shouldn’t find anything since boaters should be inspecting when they leave a waterbody, as well. 

Until all boaters have developed the habit of checking their own boats, courtesy inspectors, like Jaden, will be at the boat ramp to help out. If you have questions about the CBI program, please contact mary@mainelakes.org.