top of page

Aquatic Invasive Species

Are you concerned about invasive plants or the high threat of zebra mussels ruining Cross Lake?

 

You can learn how to identify these threats to our beautiful lake and help keep them out through the Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM) Aquatic Invasive Species Program.

​

FOCL is very concerned about invasive plant and zebra mussel threats to Cross Lake, and would like to start a volunteer Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) Program on Cross Lake. In July 2022 and again in August 2024, we hosted well-attended LSM Plant Paddles on the lake to introduce camp owners to LSM’s Quick Key, which can be used by anyone to help identify invasive plants. You don’t need to be a botanist or know anything about aquatic plants to use the Quick Key! FOCL also included copies of the Quick Key in the Welcome Packets distributed in July 2024.

​

Invasive Milfoil in a Maine Lake.jpg

ABOVE: Invasive Milfoil in a Maine lake.

LSM Plant Paddle Workshop August 17, 2024.jpg
Zebra Mussels Infesting a Boat Motor.jpg
Dakota Stankowski Sampling for Zebra Mussel e-DNA at the cross Lake Boat Launch.jpg
Zebra Mussel Settling Plate.jpg
LSM & DEP Staff & Volunteers.jpg
Warning - Clean, Drain, Dry Poster.jpg

On July 2, 2024, FOCL helped Dakota Stankowski of the Maine IF&W collect water samples from the boat launch and Mud Lake Thoroughfare outlet for zebra mussel environmental DNA (e-DNA). We also installed a zebra mussel settling plate on the public boat dock and are checking it biweekly for evidence of zebra mussels.

 

You can also help by following the CLEAN, DRAIN, & DRY procedures when moving your boat from one waterbody to another! The Infested Lakes Brochure shows the currently known infested lakes in Maine and explains the very easy CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY process. This brochure was also included in FOCL’s Welcome Packet.

 

LSM staff and volunteers (and 3 DEP Aquatic Invasive Species Program staff) surveyed all of the aquatic plants in Cross Lake from August 12 - 14, 2024, with the fun and educational plant paddle workshop the morning of August 17, 2024 and the annual meeting BBQ and presentations later that day. It was an extremely busy, but fun-filled week with a group of incredibly dedicated people!

No invasives were found “YET” in Cross Lake, Madawaska Lake, Daigle Pond or Black Lake, but we are at a “High Risk” for invasive species and are “Priority Waters” for zebra mussels, which would destroy our beautiful lake and are less than 30 miles away at the Madawaska River dam in Edmundston, NB! 

 

To see firsthand how invasives could severely and negatively impact Cross Lake, you might be interested in LSM’s exceptional The Battle for Big Lake 19-minute film. It clearly and emotionally shows how devastating invasives are and why we need to prevent them from ever infesting our lake!

 

There is more we must do to protect our lake from invasives, including forming an Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) volunteer team and starting a Courtesy Boat Inspection (CBI) program at the public boat landing. The Lakes Environmental Association trains CBI Inspectors for free. Please contact us if you are interested in either or both programs; we need your help!

bottom of page