PHOTO: Hanz Berger, RLHT Headwaters Lake Protection Program coordinator checks out Height of Land. (RLHT photo)
RANGELEY – The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust is doing its part to make sure water stays free of invasive plants.
This years’ Maine Conservation Corps environmental steward is Hanz Berger, of South Paris, who will focus on water quality monitoring as the Headwaters Lake Protection Program coordinator for the season.
Conducting boat inspections at a public launch on the weekends, Mondays and Tuesdays, Berger will keep office hours to assist volunteers with collecting water clarity data and documenting aquatic plants.
Born and raised in Maine, Berger grew up in Waterford and has family in South Paris. Berger joked he’s “familiar to the Rangeley area,” that that he lived about an hour and a half away. “I’ve been up to Rangeley for years, but I’m still getting familiar with all the ins and outs,” he said. “I’m glad to be living here and serving with the community for the next six months.”
Berger graduated with a bachelors in biology from Northern Vermont University-Johnson. His academic career focused on ecology, forestry and conservation biology. He will serve with the RLHT until November.
Along with Berger’s efforts, for the 19th year, the trust is conducting courtesy boat inspections at public boat launches across the region.
Since its inception, inspectors have educated more than 23,000 boaters and visitors on Cupsuptic, Mooselookmeguntic, Richardson and Rangeley lakes.
“Last season, courtesy boat inspectors found 46 plants on boats in our region which was a record for us,” said Amanda Laliberte, program director. “Thankfully none were invasive. Double-checking your boat and gear before and after launching to make sure it’s clean of plants and other debris and isn’t holding water is what will make the difference in keeping our lakes healthy.”
The trust reminds all that Rangeley region lakes and ponds are a precious economic resource as well as an incredible natural resource. Invasive plants can be devastating to a water body and local economy. A tiny fragment or a single seed carried on a boat trailer or fishing gear can start an infestation. Invasive aquatic species are self-sustaining and can double in size within a single year, often outcompeting beneficial native plants. They have no natural predators and, left alone, can fill in shorelines with mats of thick fronds, making lakes unsuitable for recreation. Lake associations and shorefront owners are encouraged to connect with RLHT to learn more about preventing aquatic invaders via emailing headwaters@rlht.org.
