AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Environmental Protection will start inspecting boats at boat ramps across the state this weekend to help prevent the spread of milfoil and other invasive plants.

Last year inspectors spent 26,534 hours inspecting boats. Although the DEP provides $60,000 derived from the milfoil sticker fee to support participating organizations, local lake stewards - mostly volunteers - make the inspection program a success, said Paul Gregory, an environmental specialist for the DEP invasive species program.

Only 28 of Maine’s 6,000 ponds and lakes contain an invasive aquatic plant species, Gregory said. No new infestations were reported in 2007.