Vol. 7, No. 3 Provided free of charge to our monitors and affiliates Winter 2002

WHAT’S INSIDE

By now, most of you have probably heard that theinvasive plant, Hydrilla verticillata, was identi-fied this fall in Pickerel Pond in Limerick (by

VLMP staff, by the way). Finding this species was a very unwelcomesurprise. Hydrilla is particularly invasive.

I think we should view this discovery as a serious wake up call. It is nolonger okay to sit on the sidelines. There is a need for all of us to get intothe action in our own small way. I have been thinking about what can bedone in my area to keep invasives out. I’ve resolved to go to the townsin the Pemaquid and Damariscotta Lake region and request a yearly con-tribution to an invasives prevention program. The combined funds canbe used to hire courtesy boat inspectors and for other education, moni-toring, and prevention projects.

What’s your plan?

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTPETER FISCHER

HYDRILLA DISCOVERED IN LIMERICK, MAINE

Hydrilla verticillata is considered to be one of the most invasive aquatic plants in the world. Prior to 2002, thenorthernmost known infestation of this plant in the eastern U.S. was in a single small pond in Massachusetts.Hydrilla is not known to exist in New Hampshire or Vermont.

Last summer a seasonal resident of Pickerel Pond in Limerick, Maine contacted the VLMP because he hadobserved a rapidly growing plant near his dock. After checking our website, he suspected that the plant couldbe Hydrilla. When the volunteer reported his observation to VLMP staff, he was asked to send a specimen tothe Turner office for identification. Although it seemed unlikely that the plant in question could be Hydrilla,each report by volunteers of a possible invasive aquatic plant is taken seriously.

When the specimen arrived in the mail it was partially decomposed, and a definitive identification was not pos-sible. A number of native and non-native aquatic plants are very similar in appearance to Hydrilla, includingElodea, a plant that is found in many lakes and ponds throughout Maine. Because of this uncertainty, and becauseHydrilla is such a serious threat, VLMP staff made a site visit to Pickerel Pond in the early fall. Upon arrival atthe site in question, we observed a nearly continuous coverage of the littoral area by the plant. After only a few

Continued on Page 6

Dear Friends and Volunteers 2

Christopher Lake Milfoil 3

Lakeside Notes 4

Saftey Guidelines on Lakes 5

Hydrilla in Limerick cont. 6

Invasive Plant Patrol Workshops 7

Littorally Speaking 8,9

Odonates 10

Lake Lingo 11

VLMP Joins Maine Voices Project 12

Quality Counts 13

The other day, a volunteer asked why the VLMP needs fundraising, and in particular, why we need to ask our volunteersto support the VLMP financially. “I would like to think,”he said, “that by doing volunteer work, the issue of financ-ing the project would be taken care of.”

That is an excellent question and deserves a thoughtful answer. Why do we needto fund raise? And why isn’t the issue of financing the project taken care of?

Our core services relating to water quality monitoring are currently supported bythe Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency Clean Water Program. That funding supports specific tasks,including training and recertification workshops for volunteers; purchasing mon-itoring equipment such as DO meters, Secchi disks and scopes; data management;outreach and technical assistance; a portion of our work to identify and preventinvasive aquatic species; producing the Annual Report and the Annual Meeting.A portion of those funds also helps support the basic needs of rent, utilities, insur-ance, the VLMP truck, and similar expenses.

It is important to note that, while these funds cover a significant portion of ourbudget, they do not cover the entire need of the Program. Thirty percent of ourbudget must come from sources other than State and Federal funding.

In this economic and political climate, one would be foolhardy to rely solely ongovernment funding to support the program. The Clean Water Act may be injeopardy, putting our EPA funding at risk. The State budget crisis is in the newsevery day, and we have no way of knowing how we will be impacted by it. Weonly know that we will be impacted.

Support in addition to our government funding is needed on an on-going, annu-al basis to ensure the basic administrative and operating needs of the MaineVolunteer Lake Monitoring Program. These needs are by no means frivolous orunnecessary, but represent activities essential to the day-to-day operation andlong-term continuance of the Program.

In 2000, we began approaching private foundations, which have provided fund-ing for general operations, outreach, and a number of specific projects. Thatfunding helped provide the base that allowed us to grow and expand the programfrom 275 volunteers in 1999 to more than 525 in 2002, an increase of 48%. Thenumber of lakes being monitored has grown by a similar percentage.

Fund raising is defined as “securing individual and institutional financialresources to advance a nonprofit’s mission.” General operating expenses sup-

VLMP Staff

Scott WilliamsExecutive Director

Stasia SavasukProgram Assistant

Becky WelshDevelopment Coordinator

Roberta HillSpecial Projects Coordinator

Linda BaconQA/QC Advisor (Maine DEP)

Board of Directors

Peter Fischer - PresidentBristol

Dick Thibodeau - Vice PresidentTurner

Mary Hitchings - SecretaryAugusta

Jim Burke - TreasurerLewiston

George CrossSangerville

Mary Jane DillinghamAuburn

Phoebe HardestyLewiston

Ken HoltNorth TurnerSteve Kahl

OronoBill Monagle

WinthropGerry Nelson

LovellSharon Treat

Farmingdale

Visit us on line at:www.mainevolunteerlakemonitors.org

Contact Us:PO Box 445

Turner, ME 04282207-225-2070

vlmp@megalink.net

Editorial Staff

Stasia Savasuk, Editor & LayoutScott Williams, Editorial Comm.Becky Welsh, Editorial Comm.Roberta Hill, Editorial Comm.

Funding for this newsletter is made possible by grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency and theMaine Department of Environmental Protection, through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

Printed on Recycled Paper By:

Curry Printing & Graphics - Auburn, ME

Page 2Vol. 7, No. 3

Dear Friends and Volunteers,

Continued on Page 5

Becky WelshDevelopment Coordinator

Variable Milfoil was discovered in LakeChristopher on June 18, 2002, by a class ofteachers doing watershed investigations aspart of the American Wilderness LeadershipSchool. The teachers used materials thatwere developed by the Volunteer LakeMonitoring Program to identify the invasiveplant. Identification was later confirmed bythe VLMP.

About 19 clusters of milfoil were found andwere later documented using a GPS unit.The clusters ranged from one single plant,up to clumps as large as 30’x50’. Moreseemed to pop up every time they were surveyed. The DEP was contacted,and John McPhedron and Karen Hahnel visited the site. A permit for the del-icate hand removal of the plants was issued one week later.

Jim Chandler (former volunteer lake monitor for Lake Christopher), alongwith Mr. and Mrs. Jim White, Nancy Willard (certified volunteer monitor,Lake Christopher ), and other members of the Community LakeAssociation (covering the lakes of Woodstock, Greenwood, and SongoPond) constructed enclosures around the larger clumps of milfoil, in order toprevent milfoil fragments from spreading to other areas of the lake. To cre-ate the enclosures, we stapled polyethylene plastic sheets to sapling polesand encircled the infested area.

In early July, two days were spent hand-pulling milfoil and disposing of it inpiles on land. Approximately 940 stems were removed. Adjacent areas werealso surveyed, though it appeared that the milfoil was limited to the covenext to Lakeside Cemetery and the area just outside the mouth of the cove.

Paula Wheeler, of Hot Colors Screen Printing and Design, volunteered toscuba dive the deeper waters and survey for variable milfoil. She found andremoved about 40 plants.

After the initial hand removal, the site was visited nearly every two weeks,and on each visit, approximately 60 plants were found and removed. Theenclosures were kept up until the end of the summer. At the end of the season,Jim White drove PVC pipes into the ground to mark the sites of the enclosuresand other small clumps of milfoil. Monitoring of the pond will continue asnecessary next spring and summer... as long as it takes to control the milfoil.

Page 3Vol. 7, No. 3

SO YOU THINK

YOU KNOW

MAINE LAKES?Starting with this edition of TheWater Column, test your knowl-edge of Maine lakes. For thoseof you who have witnessed ourpresentations at AnnualMeetings, be assured that thequestions herein will be of asimilar caliber.

If you know the answer to thefollowing question, please con-tact the VLMP office via email.If you are the 7th person to con-tact us , we will send you a spe-cial prize!

Question: What is the term thatis commonly used to describethe phenomenon that occurs inmany Maine lakes in the springand fall, when the entire watercolumn is approximately thesame temperature, and the watermixes from the surface to thebottom?

Answer (Choose One):StratificationTurnoverThermoclineLimnover

LAKE CHRISTOPHER MILFOILBY: JIM CHANDLER

Polyethylene enclosure surroundinga large patch of milfoil on LakeChristopher.

www.iGive.comHelp support the MVLMP by shopping at the iGive.com shopping mall, which is host to thousands ofbrandname stores such as LL Bean, Barnes&Noble.com, Amazon.com and the Gap. Every time youshop at iGive.com, a percentage of your purchase can be donated to your favorite cause. So, next timeyou’re getting ready to make an on-line purchase, do so through www.iGive.com.

Page 4Vol. 7, No. 3

LAKESIDE NOTESSCOTT WILLIAMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Felicitations!It is January 2003. All of us herewould like to wish all of the dedi-cated volunteers who are thefoundation of the VLMP, all ofour collaborators, whose visionallows us to continue to grow andbecome more diverse (and anyoneelse who is reading this) a veryHappy New Year. Despite thedark and cold, January is a timefor renewal and for looking ahead.One of our resolutions for thisyear is to attend to concepts thathave been sitting on the drawingboard for a while. We’re alwaysvery open to your ideas aboutways in which to improve pro-gram operation. Let us know whatyou think about the following:

New Stuff!At long last, and after much dis-cussion, we will initiate the“Certified Volunteer Trainer”(CVT) program next summer.Through this, volunteers will betrained to assist the VLMP andMDEP staff in conducting volun-teer monitor re-certificationworkshops. A number of individ-uals have expressed interest inbecoming involved as a CVT.

From the staff perspective, theassistance of qualified trainersduring the very hectic summerseason is most welcome! The firstseason will focus on getting theprogram up and running.Candidates will be required toattend a special training work-shop, after which they will “shad-ow” and assist VLMP and DEPworkshop conductors. Eventuallysome CVT’s may conduct work-shops independently, dependingon specific staff needs.

In recent years, manyvolunteers have expressed inter-est in broadening their lake sam-pling regime, without addingmajor cost and time to theprocess. Working with ourMDEP Quality Liaison, LindaBacon, a new procedure forgathering total phosphorus sam-ples has been approved for vol-unteer monitors. This simpleprocess involves the careful col-lection of a water sample fromjust under the lake surface at thesampling station where Secchireadings are taken. No specialequipment is required, otherthan the sampling bottles thatare provided by the laboratory.Volunteers, or their lake associa-tions, will be responsible forpaying for the laboratory analy-sis. Sampling containers will beshipped to participating volun-teers in a special box that is usedto send the sample back to thelab for analysis. Those whochoose to sample their lakes fortotal phosphorus will berequired to attend training work-shops for certification.

Thin Ice!Finally, a note of caution: Forthose of us who are fortunateenough to spend four seasons inMaine, our lakes and ponds offerwonderful opportunities for win-ter recreation. Many small pondswere covered with ice as early aslast November. But as of mid-January, some large, deep lakesstill have open water or very thinice cover, especially in areaswhere the water is deep or flow-ing. If you plan to spend time onyour lake this winter, please besure that the ice is thick enough tosupport you and whatever equip-ment or machinery you are using.Remember that ice thickness mayvary, especially when it coversrunning water. So, even thoughthe ice may be a foot thick in onelocation, it may be only an inchthick several yards away!

The ability of ice to sup-port weight cannot be judgedsolely by appearance, thickness,air temperature, or snow depth.Other factors, including waterdepth and flow, and the amountof weight that the ice must sup-port should be taken into consid-eration when planning an outingon winter ice. (See WinterSafety Guidelines on nextpage.)

Little does he know that he is playing akey role in a common lakeside love

scene. (Note the mating dragonflies.)

“...volunteers will betrained to assist theVLMP and MDEPstaff in conductingre-certificationworkshops.”

Page 5Vol. 7, No. 3

ported by fund raising representresources essential to advancingthe VLMP’s mission, but whichare not paid for by restricted, orspecifically targeted, funding. Itis critical that the VLMP havethe financial flexibility to be ableto respond to situations as theyarise, whether it is a meeting oflakes-related stakeholders, a spe-cial meeting or training work-shop, a survey of a suspectedinfestation of invasive aquaticplants, or other similar circum-stance. We have worked longand hard to position the VLMPas the leading organization inMaine that provides accurate andunbiased lake water qualityinformation to the public, and wemust have the funding base

required to fill that role.The work of our volun-

teers is extraordinary, and themonetary value of that work issignificant, indeed. It is easy tobe lulled into complacency, how-ever, thinking that because somuch is volunteered, little else isneeded. In addition to the enor-mous amount of time and effortcontributed by our volunteers, wemust maintain a small profes-sional staff to coordinate our net-work of volunteers and to sup-port the administrative needs ofthe Program, as well as stayingabreast of issues affectingMaine’s lakes. We have two full-time staff members, and twopart-time, equal to 2.65 full timeemployees.

We have asked concernedindividuals, businesses and lakeassociations to support theProgram financially over the pastfew years, and they haveresponded well. We began a spe-cial event fundraiser, the auction,two years ago, and that haspotential to grow. But your sup-port is crucial to our continuedsuccess. You, our volunteers, areour primary stakeholders.Without your hard work and ded-ication, the VLMP would not beable to fulfill its mission. Butwithout the VLMP, your workand the data you collect would befor naught. We are here for you,and we hope you will be there forus and for the continuedhealth of Maine lakes.

Continued from Page 2

WINTER SAFETY GUIDELINES ON LAKES

Never go out on the ice alone. Always have a rescue plan with your ice companion(s).

Carry a PFD and some rope with your gear. Both could be thrownto someone who has broken through the ice.

Be extra cautious on the ice at night. Vehicles might not be able to see you, and you might not be able to see a hole in the ice!

Although guidelines vary, most sources suggest a minimum of 4 inches of clear ice to support one person. Obviously, the depth should be greater if several people are together in one area, or ifvehicles or heavy gear are involved.

Be familiar with the body of water. If your lake or pond has springs, be aware that groundwater from those springs is much warmer than ice, and may therefore limit its thickness.

Never make assumptions that the ice is safe! Information about ice thickness is often available from state public safety agencies.Always check this information before heading out, and make sure you are prepared.

Have fun and please be careful!

PASSINGSWe were saddened to learn of therecent passing of Guy Litalien.Guy was the volunteer monitoron Little Ossipee Lake for manyyears. Beyond his invaluableassistance in gathering lake data,Guy was also a key player inefforts to protect Little Ossipeethrough his participation inwatershed surveys, and technicaloutreach and assistance to hislake association, and watershedcommunity. Those of us who hadthe privilege of working withhim over the years will miss hisenthusiasm, curiosity, and warmsmile.

Page 6Vol. 7, No. 3

minutes, there was little doubtthat the plant was indeedHydrilla. Back at the VLMP lab-oratory, a number of the speci-mans from Pickerel Pond werechecked microscopically, andelectronic images of the speci-mens were sent to nationalexperts to confirm the identifica-tion. (For information about howto identify Hydrilla, see“Littorally Speaking” inside thisissue.)

A subsequent survey ofthe Pickerel Pond problem byVLMP and Maine DEP staffrevealed that much of the shallowwater habitat of the pond washeavily infested with the invader.Plants were observed growing inwater as deep as 8 feet, althoughthe average depth limit wasapproximately 6 feet. The plantpresented a continuous mat alongmuch of the shoreline. Hydrillahas been reported to grow inwater depths of up to 30 feet.

The State of Maine haspassed Legislation that outlawsthe introduction, transportation,sale, and cultivation of 11 inva-sive aquatic plants. Of the 11species, Hydrilla may be the mostaggressive and problematic. Oncethis species becomes established

in a lake or pond, the chances oferadication are poor, and unlessstrong preventive measures aretaken, it is likely that the plantwill spread to other waterbodies.

The discovery of Hydrillain Maine took everyone by sur-prise. The presence of this invad-er in the northern states isthought to be very limited. Priorto the discovery, the number ofspecies of invasive aquatic plantsknown to be in Maine lakes andponds was limited to Variablemilfoil in about 15 water bodies.The majority of lakes that areinfested with this invasivespecies of milfoil are situated insouthwestern Maine.

Like many other inva-sive aquatic plants, Hydrilla hasexcellent survival characteris-tics, including one that is knownas “clonal expansion”. This sim-ply means that fragments of theplant are capable of producingnew plants. Therefore, the rateat which Hydrilla spreads isactually increased when boats,swimmers, and even naturalwave action disturbs the plant,causing fragments to break-offand float away. In late October,VLMP and DEP staff foundviable fragments of Hydrillaattached to a boat trailer thatwas parked at the public accessarea at Pickerel Pond. Informingboaters about the importance ofequipment inspections beforelaunching can substantiallyreduce the risk of spreading anyinvasive aquatic plant.

The discovery of Hydrillain Maine underscores the factthat relatively little is knownabout the presence of invasiveaquatic species in the state. Withmore than 6,000 lakes and pondsin Maine, the task of screening

even a small percentage of themfor aquatic invaders is a monu-mental task. Nonetheless, thisessential process of assessmenthas been started. The VLMP isworking with the MaineDepartment of EnvironmentalProtection and the Maine NaturalAreas Program to develop a“rapid assessment protocol” thatwill be used to screen lakesthroughout the state. This tool isbeing designed to provide criticalinformation in the most rapid,efficient, and inexpensive mannerpossible. It will be valuable toboth professionals and trainedvolunteers. The VLMP will incor-porate new methods and proce-dures for invasive plant screening(as they become available) in theInvasive Plant Patrol workshopsnext summer. (For more informa-tion about Plant Patrol work-shops, please see “IPP Workshops2003” inside this issue)

Shortly after the PickerelPond discovery, a number ofactions were immediately takenby state officials to contain thisaggressive invader. Town offi-cials were alerted, a screen wasinstalled across the outlet stream,a warning sign was placed at thepublic boat landing, and strategicplanning was initiated at the state

Hydrilla... Continued from Page 1

Roberta Hill, the VLMP InvasivesSpecies Coordinator, collecting a sam-

ple of Hydrilla at Pickeral Pond inLimerick, Maine.

A paddle submersed into a thick massof Hydrilla in Pickerel Pond.

Continued on Page 7

Page 7Vol. 7, No. 3

and local level to evaluateoptions for managing the plantwithin the pond and preventingthe plant from spreading to otherwaterbodies.

The bright point of thisotherwise gloomy story is thatonce again a volunteer has playeda critical role in the discovery andidentification of an aquatic invad-er. Volunteers have raised thewarning flag for many of theVariable milfoil discoveries thathave been made in Maine.Clearly, raising public awarenessthrough education is vital in ourefforts to protect Maine lakesfrom this threat. Without the vigi-lance and assistance of thePickerel Pond volunteer, wewould probably not know thatHydrilla had invaded Maine, andprecautions would not be under-way to ensure that this menacedoes not infest other water bodies.

Inside this issue you willfind more detailed informationabout Hydrilla, including how todistinguish it from other aquaticplants, its growth characteristics,and actions that you can take tohelp ensure that this invader(and others) do not find theirway into your lake.

Continued from Page 6

MOVING ONAfter three years as Development Coordinator with the VLMP, I’mchanging direction. I’ve decided to shift away from Development tofocus my energy on writing, and I am pursuing an MFA in CreativeWriting through USM’s Stonecoast program. I’ve enjoyed my time withthe VLMP and meeting all our wonderful volunteers. I’ll miss you all.

~Becky Welsh

INVASIVE PLANT PATROL

WORKSHOPS 2003This summer the VLMP will once again be offering Invasive Plant Patrolworkshops to train volunteers all over the state of Maine to recognize theplants on Maine’s “eleven most unwanted” list, and to distinguish theseinvaders from some of their native Maine look alikes.

The IPP training has been revised and expanded for 2003 in response toyour comments and suggestions. The basic 4 ½ hour workshop will bepresented in three parts: an overview and update of the invasive plantissue in Maine and beyond, a expanded hands-on plant identificationsegment with special attention on hydrilla, and the fundamentals of con-ducting an invasive plant screening survey. In addition to the basicworkshop we will be offering two advanced courses this year, one onadvanced plant identification and the organization of lake wide screen-ing surveys, and the other providing screening survey field experience.We will also be offering, for the second time, a special IPP course exten-sion for SCUBA divers and others involved in hand-pulling efforts.

We are currently in the process of lining up sites and organizing theschedule for the 2003 workshops. Our goal is to provide at least onebasic workshop in every Maine County this year. We are still lookingfor host groups and sites in the following Counties: Knox, Penobscot,Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset and Washington. All that is neededto host a basic workshop is a suitable meeting space and at least 15 par-ticipants. As existing funding for these workshops is limited and notactually adequate to achieve full statewide coverage, we encourage allhost groups to consider helping us stretch our dollars by making a finan-cial contribution toward their workshop. Your support for this programwill help the VLMP to spread the word throughout the State and put moretrained eyes out there on Maine’s lakes.

Please contact Roberta Hill 207-225-2070 or vlmp@megalink.net if you areinterested in hosting or attending a basic or advanced training workshopin the coming season or would like to learn more about the IPP program.

Roberta Hill guiding IPP workshopparticipants in plant identification.

Despite one of the mostaggressive (and expensive) inva-sive plant management programsin the country, this “perfect”invader appears in more Floridawaterbodies every year. To givesome sense of the situation downsouth . . . Florida spent $56 mil-lion for hydrilla control during arecent ten-year period and, dur-ing that time, the number of acresinfested with hydrilla doubled.The following excerpt is takenfrom the Florida Aquatic PlantSurvey Report 1992.

Waters continue to beinfested providing newexamples of hydrilla’stremendous growth rate.The latest lesson is beinglearned on LakeWeohyakapka. Hydrillawas discovered in LakeWeohyakapka in 1991,but too late to contain itat the boat ramp. At itscurrent rate of expan-sion, it is expected to fillthis 7,500-acre lake bylate 1993. Whole-lakemanagement costs for aproblem of this magni-tude could exceed$500,000 per treatment.

Hydrilla verti-cillata, com-monly referredto simply ashydrilla, hasbeen called the“ p e r f e c t

weed.” Native to Africa, Australiaand parts of Asia, hydrilla wasintroduced to Florida in 1960 viathe aquarium trade. The storygoes that a tropical fish and plantfarmer from Missouri was the firstto import the “Indian star-vine”plants from Ceylon (now SriLanka). He, in turn, sold the sixsmall bundles of hydrilla to afarmer in the Tampa Bay area.The Tampa farmer, unimpressedwith the looks of the plants,dumped the bundles into a canalthat ran in back of his operation.A few months later the farmernoticed that the discarded plantshad spread prolifically and hadbecome attractively vigorous, atwhich point he decided to cultureand market the plants. The inten-tional and unintentional spread ofthis plant into Florida’s lakes andstreams ensued and the rest is, aswe say, history. Hydrilla, now inmore than 40% of Florida’s publicwaters, is reported to be the mostabundant submersed aquatic plantin the state.

The littoral zone refers to the shallow waters near the shore of a waterbody, where sunlight penetrates to the bottom. Poetically dubbedthe “fertile fringe,” this warm, nutrient rich zone plays a vital role in perpetuating and sustaining lake and pond biota. Home to root-ed and free-floating aquatic plants and essential habitat for myriad creatures from dragonfly larvae to raccoon, it is a place of complexinteractions, dynamic change, and exquisite beauty. In this column we will explore this extraordinary and often under appreciated partof the lake ecosystem, the plants and creatures that live there, the complex web of life that connects them, and ways we can all help toensure that this delicate web is preserved. Unfortunately, in light of recent events, we must begin this new series with a discussion of oneof the greatest threats ever to have confronted the littoral zones of Maine’s lakes and ponds.

Page 8Vol. 7, No. 3

LITTORALLY SPEAKINGROBERTA HILL, SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR

Hydrilla in not being soldin the US today, nonetheless itwas recently introduced toCalifornia as a contaminant ofwater lily rhizomes. The hydrillainfestations in Washington Stateoccur in two lakes where intro-duced water lilies are commonand it is suspected that theseinfestations are also due to therelease of contaminated lilies.Surely there is a lesson to belearned here . . . It is NEVER safeto introduce ANY new plant, nomatter how beautiful or “legal,”into Maine’s public waters.

So it is time for us to getto know Maine’s newest andmost formidable aquatic invader.First, it is important to know thatthere are two varieties of hydrilla

Hydrilla infestation at WakullaSprings, Florida.

Continued on Page 9

in the United States. Most of theplants in the southern states aredioecious, meaning that the maleand female flowers occur on sep-arate plants. The dioeciousplants in the US are all one sex,female. (In New Zealand, wherehydrilla has also been introduced,the plants are all male.) Theplants in northern states are pri-marily monoecious, having bothmale and female flowers on thesame plant. The monoeciousplants can set viable seed, thoughthis is not seen as a primarymeans of propagation.

There is variation ingrowth habit between northernand southern plants as well. Thenorthern plants tend to branch atthe sediment (as opposed tobranching at the water surface astheir southern counterparts do)sprawling along the lake bottomproducing vast networks ofunderground rhizomes andaboveground stolens, from whicha thick forest of vine-like stemssprout and grow to the surface.The northern plants also tend tobe more delicate in appearance,their spiny leaves typicallysmaller, and the star-shapedwhorls of leaves more looselyarranged along the stem.

Knowing which varietywe are likely to find in Mainewaters can help us refine ourabilities to identify this plant.One of the problems in makingan immediate positive identifica-tion of the hydrilla found inPickerel Pond was that the plantslacked the barbs on the undersideof the midrib that are often citedas a key characteristic for identi-fication. It was only when wesent the plants to our nationalexpert, that we learned that thelack of midrib barbs is notuncommon for the more delicatelooking northern plants. (Plantpatrollers, please make note ofthis in your field guides!)

Hydrilla has earned itsdubious distinction as the “per-fect weed” for having numerousevolutionary advantages overother plants in the littoral zone. Itcan grow in very low light, allow-ing it to proliferate in a widerrange of water quality conditionsand to a greater depth than mostother plants. Hydrilla has beenfound growing to depths greaterthan 50 feet (though a depth rangeto 30 feet is more common), farsurpassing even the dreadedEurasian milfoil, thought to havean outside depth tolerance ofabout 20 feet. Hydrilla is alsomore efficient at taking up and

storing essential nutrients thanother plant species and can growastonishingly fast—up to oneinch per day. It will thrive inflowing as well as still waters andwill tolerate salinity of up to 10parts per thousand, posing athreat to rivers and estuaries aswell as lakes. Like many inva-sive plants, hydrilla can sproutnew roots from a tiny stem frag-ment and begin a new colonyupon settling to the bottom, aprocess of propagation known asclonal expansion. With hydrilla,a fragment needs only two whorlsof leaves to be viable, a bit oftenmeasuring no more than ¼ of aninch!

The clincher to thisplant’s success and notoriety,however, is hydrilla’s ability toproduce ingenious little struc-tures called turions and tubers.Turions are compact buds pro-duced at the stem tips, that easilybreak free of the plant, drift, thensettle to the bottom to start newplants. They are about ¼ inchlong, green and spiny like apinecone.

Tubers are undergroundturions, attached intermittentlyalong the rhizomes. They arewhite or yellowish in color andresemble tiny plump, slightlylopsided crescent rolls. Uponclose examination with a handlens, the tubers also reveal a

Hydrilla growth habit showing stolonsand rhizomes. Note the tuber in the

lower right corner.

A - enlarged leaf from dioecious plant(mid rib barbs often present)B - enlarged leaf from monoeciousplant (mid rib barbs often lacking)C- enlarged claw-like tooth along leafmargin

Continued from Page 8

Magnified image of a turion: a com-pact bud that can break free and start

a new plant.

Continued on Page 10

Page 9Vol. 7, No. 3

spiny pinecone-like surface, butin this case the scales are trans-parent and more tightly held tothe surface. One square meter ofhydrilla can produce 5,000tubers!

Both varieties of hydrillaproduce an abundance of tubersand turions in the fall, and themonoecious northern variety has

Magnified image of Hydrilla tubers.They can persist several years in the

sediment before sprouting a new plant.

Continued from Page 9

been known to compensate for itsshorter growing season by mak-ing tubers in the spring as well asin the fall, and producing nondor-mant turions throughout thegrowing season. Tubers and turi-ons can withstand ice cover, dry-ing, herbicides, and ingestion andregurgitation by waterfowl.Tubers may remain dormant forseveral years in the sediment,confounding efforts to eradicatethis weed. The presence oftubers and turions distinguisheshydrilla from similar lookingnative plants such as Americanwaterweed (Elodea canadensis).

The hydrilla found inPickerel Pond is a wake up callindeed for all of us who treasureMaine lakes. All of us must doour part to prevent the spread ofthis and other invasive aquatic

organisms to our lakes ponds andstreams and the time to act isNOW. Inspect your boat withgreat care EVERY time you useit. Spread the word about lakeinvaders and how to prevent theirspread to family, friends andneighbors. Keep your eyes onyour own favorite piece of the lit-toral zone and make note of anysuspicious characters. Send livesamples of suspected invaders(packed in a ½ full zip lock bagand cardboard box with packingmaterial) to the VLMP for identi-fication. Attend an InvasivePlant Patrol workshop andbecome part of Maine’s trainedfrontline force! (Please see IPPWorkshops 2003 on page 7 formore information.)

Page 10

How many of you can tellthe difference between a dragon-fly and a damselfly? Perhaps youdidn’t know that there was a dif-ference between the two?

Both the dragonfly and thedamselfly are members of theOrder, Odonata, and are amongthe most ancient creatures on theplanet. Fossil records suggest thattheir forefathers were present dur-ing Carboniferous times (300 mil-lion years ago), which meansOdonates were around 100 millionyears before the earliest dinosaurs!

Until recently, I neverpaid much attention to these deli-cately beautiful, yet voraciousinsects. Nor, did I ever considerthat they were not all the same;that dragonflies are indeed very

ODONATESBY: STASIA SAVASUK

Vol. 7, No. 3

different from damselflies. Withonly a little bit of practice, youtoo, can distinguish between thetwo quite easily.

One of the most obviouscharacteristics is the way inwhich they hold their wings whileat rest. Dragonflies will hold theirwings out horizontally, awayfrom their bodies, while dam-selflies will perch with theirwings held close to their body.

There eyes are also quittelling. Dragonfly eyes are largeand meet at the top of their head,whereas the eyes of a damselflyare more bulbous and protrudefrom the sides of their head.

If you are trying to differ-entiate the two from afar, you’llnotice that the dragonfly body is

bulkier, and when flying, is oftenseen dashing and zipping about,whereas the damselfly has asinewy body that wafts and flu-teers through the air.

Celithemis elisa is a common dragonflyin Maine, and is one of my favorites.

Enallagma apersum is one of manydamselfly bluets found in Maine.

(Photos courtesy of Blair Nicula)

Lake LingoPhosphorus

Phosphorus is at the heart of most discussions about lake water qual-ity, lake protection, and watershed management. Most people havehad some experience with phosphorus as a fertilizer for their lawnsand gardens. A bag of commercial fertilizer lists phosphorus as oneof three primary ingredients: N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorus, andpotassium). But phosphorus is a ubiquitous substance that occursthroughout nature. It is a building block in cell metabolism.Therefore, it is in our bones, in the soil, in trees, grass, human andanimal waste, and just about everywhere else.

In spite of the fact that phosphorus is very common in our world, itis in relatively short supply in lake water. For most lakes and pondsin Maine, phosphorus is the nutrient that is least available for thegrowth of algae. It is therefore generally referred to as the “limitingfactor” in lake ecosystem productivity. Algae are the “primary pro-ducers” at the bottom of the lake food chain. The abundance of thesetiny plants influences the biological productivity of the entire lakesystem. As volunteer lake monitors know, excess algal growth inlakes results in lower Secchi disk readings. Over time, increasingphosphorus and algae concentrations in lakes and ponds can causedissolved oxygen levels to drop, resulting in the loss of coldwaterfishery habitat. Overall water quality generally declines as phospho-rus levels rise in lakes.

Because phosphorus is the major limiting factor in productivity, theaddition of very small amounts of this nutrient to lake water can havedramatic consequences. Some of Maine’s clearest, least productivelakes have total phosphorus concentrations in the 3-5 parts per billionrange. Lakes that have an average total phosphorus (TP) concentra-tion only a few parts per billion higher, typically have measurablylower transparency. When TP levels are consistently measured at 15ppb, or more, a lake may be at risk of experiencing sustained algalblooms (less than 2.0 meters Secchi transparency).

Protecting lakes from the negative effects of excess algal growth islargely a matter of limiting or reducing the amount of phosphorusthat is exported from the watershed to the lake. Phosphorus in thewatershed is carried to lakes primarily via stormwater runoff. Runofffrom even moderately developed watersheds typically contains muchhigher concentrations of phosphorus than runoff from watershedsthat are relatively undisturbed. Landowners in lake watersheds canlimit the amount of phosphorus that is washed from their propertiesto the lake by reducing or eliminating the use of fertilizers, by reduc-ing lawn areas, and by directing stormwater runoff from buildings,driveways and lawns to densely vegetated areas (buffers).

Page 11Vol. 7, No. 3

WELCOME!

Tom Hanson, and his son, Jared, thevolunteer monitors on BeddingtonLake, are taking on additional respon-siblity by becoming the RegionalCoordinators for Washington County.We are extremely grateful to Tom andJared, and look forward to workingwith them this summer.

TRIED & TRUE

Joe Potts is approaching his 15thyear with the VLMP! He is a volun-teer monitor on Sebago Lake, and isthe Data Entry Coordinator forOxford County (which is no smalltask!) Joe is currently enjoying theFlorida sun, as can be evidenced bythis photograph.

VLMP JOINS MAINE VOICES PROJECT

The VLMP is pleased to be participating in The Maine Voices Project, a collaboration of Maine’s literary, cul-tural, educational and conservation communities to celebrate the special places of Maine. The Maine Writersand Publishers Alliance, along with The Wilderness Society and Milkweed Editions, is sponsoring the Projectand invites you to tell about places in Maine that you cherish or about people who taught you to value the natu-ral world that surrounds us. Perhaps your favorite place is the lake where you summer. Or, maybe it’s BaxterState Park or the Allagash. Maybe it’s the park or the woods you played in behind your house as a kid. Seniorscan tell us about how the land and water has changed in their lifetime and the natural legacy you’d like to leavefor future generations. This is a chance to share with others how Maine’s special places have shaped you, whatthey have taught you, how they’ve nurtured you, and how they have given you joy or solitude.

The project consists of essays and events. From January 20 to April 21, 2003, the Maine Voices Project willsolicit stories from children and adults that illustrate their love for their special outdoor place or outdoor experi-ence. “We hope the writing of these essays will help give voice to the writer’s natural, cultural, and historicalrelationship with the places they love,” said the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance. The call for essays isopen to youth and adults of all writing levels. Essays should be 500 words or fewer, and the deadline for sub-mission is April 22, 2003. Selected essays from eight different regions of the state will be published byMilkweed Editions, a national nonprofit literary press, as part of their Literature for a Land Ethic publishing pro-gram (www.milkweed.org). All essay submissions will be posted on the Maine Voices Project web page.

This project was announced in October, and to date, more than 75 organizations have joined the call for essays,along with students and teachers from 140 schools. The VLMP has joined in this effort and agreed to inform ourvolunteers about this exciting endeavor.

Essays may be emailed to mainevoices@tws.org or faxed to (617)426-3213. If you prefer, you may mail your typed,double-spaced essays to the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, 14 Maine Street, Suite 416, Brunswick, ME04011. Include your name, address, county, telephone number, school (if applicable) and age. All submissionsor portions of submissions will be considered for publication. The Maine Voices Project retains the rights to allnon-commercial uses, including other media and promotions. Entries will not be returned.

Please share your submissions with the VLMP. E-mail or send a copy to us, and we will publish them from timeto time in The Water Column. We would also like to designate time at the 2003 Annual Meeting for people toread their essays. We look forward to learning about your special Maine places.

WE WANT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS!You’ve just put up your new 2003 calendar, and we’re already thinking about 2004! We would like to producea calendar of lake photographs taken by you, our volunteer lake monitors, for 2004 that we could use as a fund-raiser for the VLMP. We need your help—and your photographs—to do it.

We would like lake photos from the four seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn. Send your originalimages to VLMP, PO Box 445, Turner, ME 04282. (No digital photos, please)

Page 12Vol. 7, No. 3

QUALITY COUNTSD.O. KIT REAGENTS: TOXICS WITH A LIFE OF THEIR OWN.

Picture the scene. You have launched your watercraft for the first time in 2003. The motorstarts first try! …Always a good omen. You decide it is a perfect day to sample your lake. NOone else is on the water! One of those rare occasions to be savored. You go back to your houseand look around the garage/cellar. There it is! Stored away from the reach of little ones…all themonitoring equipment…carefully and neatly put away so that it is ready for a day such as this!

You untie the plastic bag and pull out the scope. Good. No spiders. Not a web…or even dust! Putting it awayclean has its rewards. And the disk, being a bit heavier, is at the bottom of the bag. The note on it says: cleanedand checked October 02. Good. Next is the grab sampler. Again you’ve done well. The item is clean and therubber bungie still works because you made sure it was kept out of sunlight last year. No worries…yet. The sixglass sample bottles are intact. And there is a milk jug with a cap for collecting spent samples.

Then last but not least, the little black box. You have to wonder if it is black for a reason. You wince and yourbrow wrinkles as you try to remember…did I buy new chemicals for this kit last year? …the year before? Thebottles don’t seem to be of any help. They are labeled with barely pronounceable chemical names, a bunch of tiny,barely readable words, a lot number, and for the first time you notice one is labeled poison, then another, and stillanother! Yes. You vaguely remember that the spent samples are collected in the milk jug and diluted before theyare discarded…sprinkled on the ground away from yourwell. This must be why. Back to the immediate question:are these chemicals any good? Can I use them today?

Good news. Not all of the chemicals need to be replacedevery year! Shelf life is based on optimum storage condi-tions: 65-75 F, away from heat/freezing, high humidity,etc. Exposure to these conditions will decrease the shelflife. This table lists recommended shelf lives for thechemicals in the LaMotte D.O. Test Kit.

And, there is a way to tell how old those nasties are using the Lot number of theLaMotte chemicals! The first 3 digits of the lot number on the lower left side ofthe label represent the date of manufacture. The first 2 digits represent the week ofthe year, ranging from 01 to 52. The third digit represents the last digit of the year.

For example, a lot number starting with 241 was made in the 24th week of 2001.(Since few of us refer time by number of week in the year, the table at the bottomof this column may be handy to keep.) These two tables should help you figure outif when the chemical in question is no longer any good.

Are you ready for a quiz? Your Starch Indicator has a Lot number beginning with172. Is it good to use? When should it be replaced?

Linda Bacon, QA/QC Advisor

Shelf lives of chemicals in LaMotte D.O. Test Kit Chemical Shelf Life Sodium Thiosulfate (# 4169) 1 year Starch Indicator (# 4170) 1.5 years *Mang. Sulf. (# 4167) 3 years *Alk. Pot. Iodide Azide (# 7166) 3 years *Sulfuric Acid (# 6141) 3 years

Approx. week # for first week of each month

Month 1st Week # Jan 01 Jan/Feb 05 Feb/Mar 08 April 13 April/May 17 May/Jun 21 July 26 July/Aug 30 Aug/Sept 35 Oct 40 Oct/Nov 44 Nov/Dec 48

*Be sure to read the material Safety Data Sheets that come with your kit. Thesesheets recommend that gloves and safety glasses be used when handling poinsonoussubstances and also recommend that they be used in an adequately ventilated area.

Answ

er: Y

es, through O

ct. 2003; should be replaced at

beginning of field season

2004

Page 13Vol. 7, No. 3

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Maine Volunteer LakeMonitoring ProgramPO Box 445Turner, ME 04282