Courtesy Boat Inspections offered at Sebec Lake 

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Sebec Lake Association, in partnership with the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Town of Dover-Foxcroft launched the Courtesy Boat Inspection program at Greeley’s Landing on Sebec Lake on Saturday, July 25.

The CBI program was developed by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to and works with volunteers and paid staff to meet with boaters before they launch their boats, explain about invasive aquatic species such as Eurasian Milfoil and Zebra Mussels, remind boaters about the importance of the Clean, Drain, Dry process to prevent movement of invasive species to other lakes and inspect boats and trailers for any evidence of invasive species or residual plants before they are launched. The Sebec Lake Association joins groups on more than 100 lakes in Maine offering these inspections. Statewide there were over 100,000 courtesy inspections completed.

Sebec Lake is one of the most pristine lakes in the State of Maine. It is not known to have any growth of invasive plants. The Sebec Lake Association, founded in 1971 with a mission to Preserve and Protect Sebec Lake, has worked for over a year to build the ability to offer courtesy inspections and is excited to start them this summer.

Dr. Dave McDermott, president of the Sebec Lake Association, said that “Courtesy Boat Inspections have been shown to help increase awareness about invasive aquatic species and to reduce the likelihood that they will be introduced into our lake.”

He credits Vice President Hugh Johnston with all the planning for the program, including successfully obtaining a grant from Maine Lakes and the DEP to fund the program this year. To highlight the importance of the program Dr. McDermott noted that one of the boats launched in Sebec this week was launched last week in a lake in Central Maine that is known to have variable leaf milfoil, an invasive plant, in the lake. He thanked the boat’s owner for properly cleaning the boat after hauling from that lake, draining the bilge before relaunching it and drying the boat thoroughly before coming to Sebec Lake.

The inspections will be conducted every Saturday and Sunday at Greeley’s Landing through the end of the summer, with some possible Friday afternoon inspections as well. In the first weekend a total of 53 boats were inspected and no aquatic invasive species were identified.

For more information about the inspections, learn more about the Sebec Lake Association or volunteer to help with preserving Sebec Lake, email sebeclakeassoc@gmail.com.