A few things we are passionate about…
CLIPPers
Water Quality Monitoring
The Crescent LakE Invasive Plant Patrollers (CLIPPers) are the volunteeer invasive plant patrols that promote prevention, early detection and rapid response to invasive plants on Crescent Lake. Volunteers are trained to recognize the invasive aquatic plants on Maine’s “eleven most wanted” list and to distinguish these invaders from their native Maine look-alikes.
Crescent Lake is divided into sections with each section being patrolled, surveyed and inventoried each year. These reports are forwarded to the Lake Stewards of Maine annually tracking invasive species throughout the State of Maine.
Monitoring by trained and certified volunteers is a vital part of ensuring the continued stewardship for future generations. Monitoring is carried out in order to better understand and assess the risks to ecological and human health.
Volunteers collect objective and repeatable scientific data on water quality parameters. The majority of monitoring activities are composed of Secchi disc transparency readings, dissolved oxygen and thermal profiles, and the collection of water samples primarily taken for laboratory analysis of total phosphorus.
Wake Wise Education
We have published a new pamphlet titled “Be Wake Wise”. The purpose of this pamphlet is to educate people on wakes and the impacts of large boat wakes on Crescent Lake’s ecosystems, wildlife and human safety. Impacts of large wakes include:
*Erosion of shoreline and wetlands
*Scouring of lake bottom, damaging fish habitat and stirring up phosphorous (effects water quality)
*Damage to loon nests and eggs
*Safety hazard for nearby swimmers
*Damage to docks and moored boats
Of particular concern are wakes in excess of 3 feet in height, which are generated by both slow speed activities such as “plowing the water” whille tubing, as well as large wakes generated by wake boats.
Following these guidelines will help maintain the water quality of the lake, protect wildlife and ensure the safety of all sharing the water.
LakeSmart
Maine Lakes partners with lake association volunteers, who visit with neighbors and friends to assess their lakeside properties, checking for erosion around structures, in the yard, and along the lake. Properties that protect the lake and meet the LakeSmart standards earn the coveted LakeSmart Award, consisting of two distinctive signs that can be posted at the waterfront and driveway. The signs identify the homes of good stewards and show everyone what lake-friendly living looks like.
CLWA offers free property evaluations. Contact our LakeSmart Coordinator!
Courtesy Boat Inspectors
The first line of defense against invasive aquatic plants such as variable leaf and Eurasian water milfoil, hydrilla, water chestnut and Brazilian elodea is Maine’s courtesy boat inspectors (CBIs). Many new infestations occur in shallow waters near public boat launch facilities, so it’s obvious invasive plants move from lake to lake on the boats and equipment of unsuspecting boaters.