The public s attention now fully engaged, the committee s next task is to drop the inflammatory proposal and to develop a workable plan to combat this lake-clogging plant. Better yet, the committee could encourage this Legislature to adopt a workable plan already developed by the Invasive Maine Aquatic Species work group appointed by the previous Legislature just a year ago. This panel of scientists, user groups and law enforcement put together a report that aptly describes the entire problem of aquatic invaders a problem much bigger than one particular plant and recommends an approach that primarily is based upon public education, citizen involvement and boater responsibility, with a touch of the punitive when called for. The unfortunate result of proposing ridiculous fees and fines is that the ridicule must subside before this constructive work can begin.
Eurasian milfoil is a problem.
Introduced to this country a century ago as aquarium decoration, it is a fast-growing plant with no natural predators. It has been a huge problem in such states as Washington, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Vermont, completely covering some lakes and requiring expensive remedies. Those states also have conducted extensive research on milfoil control and eradication. Maine is one of just three states with no Eurasian milfoil colonies, or at least no known colonies, and so has the opportunity to learn from other states and avoid their expensive, and in some cases disastrous, mistakes. Milfoil spreads primarily through cuttings.