Courtesy boat inspections on rise at Maine lakes in high-stakes battle against invasive species

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 2, 2022

Although inspectors are on the lookout for invasive plant pieces or aquatic animals, it’s not unusual to come up empty-handed. Just one in every 1,000 boat inspections results in the identification of an invasive plant in Maine. Despite the low detection rate, lake associations and bass clubs across the state are increasingly dedicating more time and money to performing these inspections during the summer boating season. Not doing so could cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars down the road, with near-permanent consequences to water bodies and surrounding properties.