by Roberta Hill, Invasive Species Program Director, Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program
The Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP) is the oldest and largest statewide citizen lake monitoring program in the nation. The mission of the VLMP is to help protect Maine lakes through widespread citizen participation in the gathering and dissemination of credible scientific information pertaining to lake health. The VLMP trains, certifies, and provides technical support to hundreds of volunteers who monitor a wide range of indicators of water quality. They also assess watershed health and function, and screen lakes for invasive aquatic plants and animals. In addition to being the primary source of scientific information pertaining to lakes in the state of Maine, VLMP volunteers benefit their local lakes by playing key stewardship and leadership roles in their communities.
This is a remarkable volunteer commitment to ensuring that life in Maine remains the “way it should be” for future generations. The good work of VLMP is featured in the group’s short documentary, The Hunt for Aquatic Invaders, which was honored as an official selection of the 2015 Maine Outdoor Film Festival.
Set on the backdrop of Maine’s mighty Moosehead Lake, The Hunt for Aquatic Invaders takes the viewer on a very different kind of outdoor adventure, one that not only speaks to the urgency of the task of preventing the spread of aquatic invaders in Maine, but also provides guidance and inspiration as it explores the vital role that volunteers can play in local and statewide early detection efforts.
MVLMP is an excellent venue for every concerned Mainer to get involved and take action to ensure our waterways remain pristine, healthy, and viable resources for all to enjoy, now and forever! To learn more or become involved visit https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org/.
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