Life of a courtesy boat inspector can at times seem unrewarding.

Hours can go by without seeing a boat and trailer pull up to a launch area.

Thorough checks often produce no signs of invasive plants.

Thankfully, this scene is often the case.

But, Kristin Hanscom had a “big save” moment on Friday, Aug. 27. The Lakes Environmental Association courtesy boat inspector (CBI) found and removed a mass of plant material from a boat entering Long Lake in Bridgton. Hanscom reported the mass to CBI program coordinator, who determined that half the mass was a perfectly harmless native plant called bladderwort, and the other half was a very harmful invasive plant called fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana). It’s not surprising if you’ve never heard of it, as it isn’t on the list of invasive aquatic plants found in Maine. 

However, it is found in many other New England states. 

Fanwort is native to the United States, but originates in the southern parts of the country. This means that, when fanwort is transported out of its’ natural habitat, it doesn’t have the same checks and balances as it has in southern waters. In the right conditions, fanwort will produce dense mats of vegetation, causing harm to native species, and impeding recreational activities like swimming and boating. 

The big question now is where did this fanwort come from? The boat was registered in Rhode Island, but had traveled between a few Maine lakes before landing at Long Lake. The plant was found on the spare tire, located toward the top of the trailer. It is possible that the trailer has not been fully submerged since leaving Rhode Island, and LEA hopes that is the case. Approximately 60 Rhode Island lakes are currently home to fanwort infestations. On the flip side, Maine has a grand total of zero lakes with this invasive plant, and we want to keep it that way. 

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection will try to answer those questions by contacting the boater. LEA hopes that the fanwort was not picked up in a Maine lake, and it is grateful to Kristin for her dedication and attention to detail. 

Preventing the spread of invasive aquatic species is a critical step in protecting lakes and ponds, and LEA is always proud of the work Courtesy Boat Inspectors do to help accomplish this. 

As always, it is the boater’s responsibility to remove any aquatic plants from their boat, trailer and gear. CBIs are there as a reminder but, if there isn’t an inspector on site, please do it yourself. It only takes a minute and could prevent an invasive species taking hold in our lakes. 

“If you see Kristin out in the community, please give her a big thank you!” LEA added.