Weed Sprouts Community Opinions
By Mike Guarino
Controversy has struck in the Belgrade Lakes Region and it has folks around here divided. Actually, to be honest, the controversy may be bringing anglers, environmentalists and naturalists closer together in the long run. It really is an old issue that seems to be brought up again and again each year. No, it's not the pike vs. trout debate, or which lake has the biggest white perch, or who makes the best pizza in town. The issue that's making headlines in the local papers is about a weed. It's an evil weed that was brought here by mistake and unceremoniously plopped into our waters; a weed that has people jumping through hoops, paying sticker fees for boats, and double-checking under their trailers. The weed is called variable leaf milfoil, and it's living a happy life in Belgrade Stream and sections of Messalonskee Lake.
The Belgrade Stream flows into the southern section of Messalonskee, which is also the most infested milfoil area. Basically, the weed has choked the stream except for the channel and a few deeper sections of the waterway and has taken a stronghold on the shallows around the boat launch located just off Route 27. For fishermen, this is not a bad thing because the bass, pickerel, crappie and pike have adapted, although most anglers find it difficult to fish during the summer months when the weed is most prevalent.
In an effort to control the milfoil, lake associations and other environmental groups have pushed to close the launch site. The main concern is the transportation of milfoil to the surrounding lakes and ponds in the area, so closing the launch that's smack dab in the middle of the problem certainly makes sense. The problem is that here in Maine, we take our public access seriously and many people do not wish to lose their access rites. So the compromise is a new launch based in Sidney where the milfoil is not as severe and the threat of transportation is minimized.
The State has made a tremendous effort to educate the boating public about moving the weed from lake to lake. Apparently, it only takes a small fragment of milfoil to take hold and establish "roots" in another lake, so it's up to all of us to make every effort to remove the milfoil from our boats, trailers, fishing nets, etc. each time we leave infested areas.
Despite all the efforts, the debated topics are many, but here's just a few to think about. The milfoil, according to many locals, has been in the stream since the late seventies and hasn't been moved yet (that we know of). So why close the launch? Answer: to defuse a potential time bomb — so far, so good, but there's nothing wrong with being proactive.
Speaking of being proactive, how about limiting the number of bass tournaments on the lake? If the concept is to lower the risk of transportation of milfoil, then why are there four registered tournaments on Messalonskee? Despite the fact that most bass tournament anglers are exceptional stewards of our lakes, there really is no justification for having tournaments on this specific lake. There are seven waters in the Belgrade chain and all have great bass fishing, yet half the tournaments are held on Messalonskee and five of the lakes do not have any tournaments at all (according to mebass.com).
Lastly, the argument over a second launch on Messalonskee is a valid one too. When you consider that Messalonskee is the only lake of seven with milfoil, why is it the only lake in the chain with two public boat launches?
So there you have it, the hot topic of the day. Fortunately, there is some very positive news to report about Messalonskee that is often left out when people talk about the lake. First is the fishing (of course!). The state stocks the lake with splake and this year there was a potential state-record fish caught there. Second, how about the black-headed terns, an endangered bird that nests in the marsh. Finally, Messalonskee Lake is a beautiful piece of water with some of the best current day pike and bass fishing in Belgrade, but don't forget about its trout and salmon history. (Look up the 9-3 fly sometime — it was designed on Messalonskee and gained its reputation for producing some big salmon — guess how much they weighed?). There are some wonderful homes and camps on the lake and the water throughout the majority of the lake is crystal clear and pristine.
Sometimes, when people read an article like this one, they think the lake is dirty. That couldn't be further from the truth, but milfoil and words like "infestation" and "evil weed" keep popping up, even though the words describe the minority of the lake. Keep in mind, of the 3,500 acres of water, only a small fraction has milfoil, but a much larger percentage has kids swimming, trout biting (sometimes!) and landowners smiling. Let's all be careful, but most importantly, let's all enjoy the Belgrade Lakes for what they are: intriguing, spectacular, and best of all, full o' fish. Good luck!
Mike Guarino can be contacted at
See related story: "Milfoil Management Marches On" (7/16/2004)
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