Roberta and Jackie of the Maine Center for Invasive Aquatic Plants put us through our paces identifying Maine's 11 "most wanted" invasive aquatic plants and their native "look-alikes." By morning's end, our minds were swimming with visions of leaded glass windows in ruffly frames, exploding swords, fox tails, rocket ships, and tacos.
Currently 29 of Maine's waterbodies have a documented invasive. AIM teachers are enthused to work with their students to screen their local freshwater systems for invasives, document natives, and send their findings to the MCIAP.
Rex and Phil of the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute joined us at Damariscotta Lake with a fleet of kayaks and canoes. A head wind and "wavelets" couldn't keep us from exploring the flora and fauna of Davis Stream. No invasives. Plenty of fun.
Some useful links mentioned throughout the day:
MCIAP Virtual Herbarium - "Maine's online resource for freshwater invasive aquatic plants...."
PEARL - "The source for environmental information in Maine...."
Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute - "A nonprofit educational organization dedicated to understanding, protecting and sustaining the health and values of Maine's lakes and the communities dependent upon them...."
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