Courtesy Boat Inspections
What do courtesy boat inspectors, often call CBIs, do? As boaters launch and remove their boats from the water, CBIs:
- Discuss with boaters how invasive aquatic plants spread
- Show boaters how to inspect boats and equipment for plant fragments
- Urge boaters to inspect before and after every launch
- Distribute information about invasive plants
- Articulate Maine law regarding the transport of these plants
CLWA partners with the Raymond Waterways Protective Association to provide boat inspections at four launch sites in Raymond: Crescent Lake, Panther Pond, Sebago Lake, and Thomas Pond. The CBIs— including paid inspectors and volunteers—inspect boats, trailers, and fishing gear entering and leaving these waters.
Inspectors remove all plant material found, bag it, and turn it in to our CBI manager. Plant materials are reviewed and identified by an expert. This service is the most important step we take to protect our waters.
All of Raymond’s lakes and ponds (with the exception of Sebago Lake) are free of aquatic invasives. CBI is a major reason they have remained so, despite the presence of variable milfoil in surrounding waterbodies such as Sebago Lake, Long Lake, and Thompson Lake.
Maine provides rich resources on this program. Follow these links for more information, training videos and more.
