Last summer, the Little Ossipee Lake Association identified and confirmed the first evidence of an invasive aquatic plant species on the lake. Swollen Bladderwort, or Utricularia Inflata, was found in various coves throughout the lake. While this is not welcome news, the Association is working to contain and, hopefully one day, eradicate the plant.
While the discovery of Swollen Bladderwort is upsetting, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. With the impacts of a warming climate, Little Ossipee’s proximity to Lake Arrowhead (which manages many invasive plants), and a public boat launch, it was highly possible an invasive plant would be found. But we shouldn’t sit back.
Late last summer, LOLA contacted different partners across the state and in coordination with Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM) and Maine DEP, a management plan has been created.
- On May 22 2024, a lake-wide survey will be conducted by LSM and our IPP team, documenting exactly where the plant is found and how bad the infestation is. Eon Cove suffered worst infestation last year and is likely to still be the area of greatest challenge.
- Next, in early June, Maine DEP will be contracting with a plant removal company, New England Milfoil, to manually remove the plant. They will be using a Diver Assisted Suction Harvest (DASH) boat that will suction as much of the plant out of the lake as possible over a four-day period. If you are on the water the first week of June, please do your best to stay far away from the DASH boat, and it is best to stay out of Eon Cove all together, if possible.
- In late summer, it is possible that LOLA will schedule manual harvest days, after seeing how the plant responds to manual harvest. If you are interested in helping, please let us know.
- Finally, in early fall, LSM will conduct a second lake-wide survey to map the progression of the plant.
It is important to note that management of Swollen Bladderwort, and its eventual eradication, may take many years. We all need to remain vigilant to stopping its spread. LOLA is incredibly thankful for the support we’ve received from LSM and Maine DEP. Their swift attention, and financial support, is giving our lake a chance to combat this nasty plant.
Please become familar with how to identify the plant. An identification chart will be mailed in our upcoming newsletter. If you find it, remove it! You can burn, bury, or compost the plant. Once it is dead there is no risk of it coming back to life if a dead fragment should wash into the lake. If everyone monitors their own shoreline, there can be a real chance of eradication.
If you are interested in joining the IPP team, we are looking for people to join us. The more Bladderwort Warriors the better! Email Bruce Church, IPP team lead at bruce7157@gmail.com.
If you haven’t already, or if you never have, truly, this is the most important time to renew or become a member of the Association. To be frank, fighting an invasive will take time and money and we need everyone to give as generously as they can. If you’ve already paid your dues this year, thank you!
In the coming days and weeks, the Association will share more information here and on our Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. You can email the entire board at directors@littleossipeelake.org. Your support and help is much appreciated.