Volunteer Opportunity Details:

Last updated on November 17, 2009

Maine’s lakes are threatened: Maine has more than 6,000 lakes and all are under a real and serious threat, menaced by invasive water plants such as variable leaf and Eurasian watermilfoil, hydrilla, water chestnut, and Brazilian elodea. These vegetative villains are so vigorous and propagate so fast that they crowd out native plants, affect fish populations, and make swimming and boating difficult, if not impossible. They can take over a lake in surprisingly little time. When this happens, lake users have to fund costly control measures just to swim, fish, or boat.
Because many new infestations likely occur in shallow waters near public boat launch facilities, it’s obvious invasive plants move from lake to lake on the boats and equipment of unsuspecting boaters. If people are the cause, they can also be the cure. One critical control point to halt the spread of these plants is at Maine’s public boat launch sites. Accordingly, the state has developed a program to educate boaters so they won’t spread plants through lack of information. It’s the Courtesy Boat Inspection Program, and it’s our lakes first line of defense.
What do Courtesy Boat Inspectors Do?
Help boaters inspect boats and equipment for plant fragments,
Ask boaters to inspect before and after every launch,
Give out information about invasive plants, and,
Make sure boaters understand Maine law regarding the transport of these plants.

There is a training requirement that we provide at no cost to the volunteer.

This opportunity is sponsored by: Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance

We need volunteers who are free at these times Evenings Weekdays Monthly Weekends Occasional Weekly One-Time This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers Adolescents (13-17) Individual Adults (26-54) Young Adults (18-25) Adults (55+)

I'm interested in this opportunity

Contact Person: Mary Kerwood, Office Manager, (phone), (email) View all agency contacts

Address:

PO Box 250 Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

Directions:

171 Main Street, Belgrade Lakes, in the same building as the Belgrade Lakes Post Office upstairs

Details where opportunity can also be performed

Web Site: http://www.belgradelakes.org

Miscellaneous Information

Average number of hours per volunteer that are required weekly to do this task.
	Depends on the volunteers availability. Any hours are welcome.
We need the following number of people to fill this position.
	Unlimited.

Last updated on November 17, 2009

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