MAINE MONITOR • October 17, 2025
Over the summer, the state of Maine applied herbicide to part of Sokokis Lake in Limerick in the hopes of snuffing out a pesky invasive plant. Early signs show it might be working. If the efforts prove successful long-term, it would mark a significant win against what the Lakes Environmental Association describes as “arguably the most difficult invasive plant to control in Maine.” Brittle naiad, an aquatic plant native to Europe and originally introduced in the United States as a food source for waterfowl, can spread quickly and choke out native plant species. The invasive plant was first found in Sokokis, also known as Holland Pond, in 2022 in the lake’s southern basin. Attempts to control it manually with trained volunteers pulling the plants by hand proved to be an uphill battle.