Help prevent aquatic invasive species in our waters.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
*mefishwildlife.com*
Maine has more than 6,000 lakes and ponds. Every one is worth protecting.
Clean. Drain. Dry.
July is Lakes Appreciation Month!
Last month, Governor Mills declared July as Lakes Appreciation Month [ [link removed] ] in Maine to highlight the ecological, economic, recreational, and intrinsic value of our waters, and to encourage stewardship of freshwater resources for future generations.
*"I encourage all citizens to take a moment to appreciate Maine's lakes and ponds that we are so fortunate to enjoy today, and to let us all take the appropriate steps to safeguard the health of our freshwater bodies for future generations"*
*Read the full Lakes Apprecation Month Proclamation* [ [link removed] ]
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Help us keep it Maine. Protect our waters from aquatic invasive species.
milfoil [ [link removed] ]
Maine has some of the country?s most pristine and healthy waters, which support high-quality habitat for fish and wildlife as well as endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Unfortunately, Maine waters, as well as the fish, wildlife, and recreation they support, are threatened each year by introductions of fish, plants, diseases, and other aquatic invasive species that compete with and displace native natural communities.
Why should I care?
Once an aquatic invasive species has established in a body of water, it is extremely difficult for it to be eradicated. These efforts are costly, often risky, and not always successful and introductions have the potential to change our natural places and the way we enjoy them forever.
What can be done?
*Prevention is key*. So much of the spread comes from people simply enjoying the great outdoors through activities such as boating, paddling, and fishing. It?s our duty as those who enjoy using Maine?s waters to become informed, attentive, and accountable for our potential role in the spread of invasive species and to take steps to protect Maine?s waters. Make clean, drain, dry [ [link removed] ], part of your outdoor adventure routine.
weeds on a boat propeller
*CLEAN *off visible aquatic plants, animals, and mud from watercraft, motor, trailer, and equipment before leaving water access.?Dispose of debris in a trash reciprocal or a responsible location away from the water.?
*DRAIN*?water from the watercraft prior to entering a waterbody?*and*?when preparing to leave a launch site.
*DRY*?completely before reuse.
*CLEAN DRAIN DRY* [ [link removed] ]
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Want to do more?
canoe on a lake
*Attend a Workshop!*
Learn how you can be a part of an Invasive Plant Patrol team with the Lake Stewards of Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program! [ [link removed] ]
Dedicated to protecting Maine lakes and to promoting a community effort for lake stewardship, they will be offering free invasive aquatic plant workshops [ [link removed] ] across the state throughout the summer.
Sign up [ [link removed] ] for a plant ID course, or join their experts on a plant paddle to learn how to survey for and correctly identify invasive plants, and how to collect specimens and report findings.?
*Register* [ [link removed] ]
settling plate
*Participate in Community Science!*
With the recent discovery of invasive zebra mussel infestations [ [link removed] ]so close to the Maine border in Canada?we are looking for volunteers to help with a pilot project to monitor for potential spread.
If you live on a lake, are a member of a lake association, or a member of another group or business with an active interest in helping to preserve the health of a lake, you may be able to help as a community scientist for the new zebra mussel settling plate project [ [link removed] ]!
*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]
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More information
Maine's most UNwanted aquatic invasive plants [ [link removed] ]
DEP Invasive Aquatic Species Program [ [link removed] ]
Maine Fishing and Boating Laws [ [link removed] ]
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[email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ?41 State House Station ? Augusta, ME 04333-0041 ? (207) 287-8000 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
