Lakes Environmental Association

05/29/2026

What do these photos have in common?

You guessed it! They’re all variable-leaf milfoil, the most common invasive aquatic plant in Maine. They are also all recent photos. Courtesy Boat Inspections are underway for the summer, and these milfoil specimens were found growing near boat launches on Long Lake and Sebago Lake.

Milfoil grows quickly, and the LEA milfoil crew has been back out manually removing it for a few weeks now. You can help stop the spread of invasive aquatic plants by doing self-inspections of your boat. Remember to “clean, drain, & dry” your boat — take care to check the propeller, depth finder, trailer and bunks, and drain any water from the boat, bilge, or livewell.

05/27/2026

Congratulations to Trinnidy Bradley, recipient of the 2026 LEA scholarship!

Trinnidy will receive a four-year, renewable scholarship to cover tuition, fees, and educational expenses at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, where she plans to study Medical Biology. Trinnidy grew up in Naples and will graduate from Lake Region High School with the class of 2026. She competed in the Maine 2026 Envirothon with the LRHS team. Trinnidy is working at Camp Kingswood on Woods Pond this summer before heading to school.

Learn more about the LEA scholarship program at:
https://mainelakes.org/lea-scholarship/

05/18/2026

It is absolutely beautiful at the Holt Pond Preserve right now, but also very wet. Mary went out on Sunday and almost all the boardwalks are flooded. Tall boots or sandals strongly recommended, and be careful as it might be slippery. If you do go out, keep your eyes peeled for rhodora and dwarf ginseng.

05/13/2026

Registration is open for our 9th annual Paddle Battle! The 2026 Maine Lakes Open Paddleboard and Kayak Race will be Sunday, July 5th, at Tarry A While Resort on Highland Lake. We will have 2K and 5K courses as well as a kids’ race, kayak raffle, and silent auction items. All proceeds benefit LEA.

Early bird registration is available through June 1st. Register at www.mainelakes.org/paddlebattle.

05/08/2026

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the 24th annual Maine Summit on Aquatic Invasive Species last week in Augusta. We gathered with folks from across the state to discuss current issues surrounding aquatic invasive species, including lessons from the Eurasian water milfoil save last summer, updates on new infestations, and prevention through efforts such as the courtesy boat inspection program.

Please remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat between water bodies this summer, and thanks to everyone who works so hard to protect our lakes.

04/21/2026

Join us for a spring nature walk tomorrow, April 22nd, to celebrate Earth Day! We'll meet at Highland Research Forest at 10:00 am. During the walk, we'll look for early-spring ephemeral flowers, budding trees, birds, and more. Please register online below.

mainelakes.org/event/earth-day-nature-walk

04/14/2026

Our 2025 water monitoring summary is now available! LEA visits 22 lakes biweekly from May through September, and an additional 19 sites in late August.

We focus much of our work on water clarity, chlorophyll-a concentrations, and total phosphorus. When considered together, these three indicators help us describe water quality conditions in a pond or lake. We also collect temperature and oxygen profiles, take samples for nutrient and algae analysis, estimate Gloeotrichia density (a type of cyanobacteria), and record weather conditions. Water samples are analyzed at our Maine Lake Science Center in Bridgton.

For most lakes, clarity, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll measurements from 2025 were within the same water quality classification range as the long-term averages. Our data is shared with Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection and is made available to the public on our website at www.mainelakes.org/testing-reports

Thank you to our volunteer monitors, lakefront landowners, and summer interns for making this work possible, and to lake associations and members for financial support. We couldn't do it without all of you! If you have questions, please reach out; we are happy to help interpret the data.

04/08/2026

Live in Harrison? The Harrison Comprehensive Planning Committee is hosting a Public Workshop this Saturday, April 11. Drop by, and learn more about the process and how to participate below 👉

📣 Harrison folks 📣 The Town of Harrison is updating their comprehensive plan, and your input is needed! A Comprehensive Plan expresses a community’s long-term vision for the future, especially regarding land use and development. It also acts as a base for capital improvement planning and a foundation for community actions and regulations.

The Harrison Comprehensive Planning Committee is hosting a Public Workshop this Saturday, April 11. Good planning, and therefore positive outcomes for the place you call home, requires robust community participation. Showing up matters!

For more information, visit https://www.harrison2027.org/

Event Details:
Provide your input on the Future of Harrison, enjoy fun hands-on activities, and a chance to win prizes from local businesses. It is a family-friendly, drop-in event. Stop by any time and stay as long as you like. Refreshments will be provided.

Date: Saturday - April 11th, 2026
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Location: The Fire Station Community Room
Address: 34 School Street, Harrison ME 04040 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/BHoxf8uSYZjx5XGF9

04/03/2026