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| Vol. 13, No. 3 | Winter 2009 | ||
By Roberta Hill, Program Director
VLMP's Center for Invasive Aquatic Plants
Invasive aquatic plant (IAP) screening survey data has poured in steadily all summer and fall. We are impressed once again by both the quantity and quality of the surveys that are being conducted in Maine, and are especially proud of the contribution of VLMP’s Invasive Plant Patrollers to this important statewide effort. Below is a brief summary of the 2008 survey season:
A total of 255 IAP surveys were conducted & reported by 216 surveyors (this is up from 205 surveys in 2007)
221 of these surveys were conducted & reported by 115 Certified Invasive Plant Patrollers (Certified IPPs conducted ~87% of all 2008 surveys!)
Survey activity was reported on 135 Maine waterbodies (up from 133 in 2007)
21 waterbodies reported survey activity for the first time (this is down from 41 newly reporting waterbodies in 2007)
The total number of Maine waterbodies surveyed for IAP to date from 2002-2008 is 373 (the total was 352 through 2007)
Repeat activity – 192 waterbodies have been surveyed more than once from 2002-2008 (this is up from 169 through 2007)
Invasive Plant Patrollers survey the littoral zone on Damariscotta Lake
All of this reported survey activity is extremely encouraging and bodes well for the future of Maine’s early detection efforts, especially when one considers that this “reported” activity may very well be only the tip of the iceberg. The VLMP Center for Invasive Aquatic Plants has now trained nearly 2,000 individuals through the Invasive Plant Patrol program, yet only a small percentage of these individuals submit data on a regular basis. What are those hundreds of non-reporting plant patrollers up to? This winter a concerted effort is underway to answer this question. In November, along with the end-of-season data submission reminder, a twenty-two question survey form was sent out by email to all Plant Patrollers. Though the response was not overwhelming, those that did respond confirmed our assumption that active plant patrollers engage in significant invasives outreach to their respective communities, in a number of "unreported" ways. The email survey did not, however, help to reveal what kind of survey activity is undertaken by those who have been trained, but have not yet actually reported a survey.
In an attempt to connect more specifically with the non-reporting population, a telephone survey was initiated in January. A sample population of 2008 IPP workshop attendees was identified, with the goal of conducting telephone interviews with a statistically significant number of trainees. The phone surveys are still ongoing, but preliminary results, are indeed illuminating. Here are the results in brief:
the majority interviewed have either engaged in survey activity, or plan to engage in survey activity next year (though almost none of these 2008 surveys were actually reported)
all respondents said they routinely keep an eye out for invaders when they are on the water, though they do not officially report this activity
most we spoke to wish to continue on to advanced IPP training; the most popular courses being the Field Methods and Advance Plant ID workshops
the majority are using the field guide and find it helpful and user friendly
one-third wish to take the next step and become Certified Plant Patrollers in 2009
all believe the VLMP’s Invasive Plant Patrol program is important (95% say “very important”) to the statewide prevention effort
We thank those of you who have now taken the time to assist us with our end-of-year survey. For those of you whom we have missed this time around, please do not let that stop you from weighing in. What are you doing on your lake and in your community with the knowledge and experience you have gained through the Invasive Plant Patrol training? Please let us know!!
Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program
vlmp@mainevlmp.org
24 Maple Hill Road, Auburn, ME 04210
(207) 783-7733
www.MaineVolunteerLakeMonitors.org
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