BELGRADE LAKES REGION -- Officials of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection have confirmed the presence of Eurasian milfoil, that awful, fast-spreading weed, in Salmon Lake (also known as Ellis Pond, see map below).

Salmon Lake is one of the headwater bodies of the whole Belgrade Lakes region.
The Maine DEP investigated the area on Aug. 5, shortly after the possibility of milfoil was reported.

"This finding, especially in headwaters of a major lake system, calls for a quick and precise response because Eurasian water milfoil is considered more aggressive than the variable water milfoil which exists in 25 ponds and lakes in Maine," said Paul Gregory, a specialist with the DEP.

Beginning Monday, the DEP will coordinate in-depth surveys of Salmon Lake to determine exactly where the plant has spread.

Concerned? Officials from DEP will discuss the infestation and the plan to mitigate it at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the annual meeting of the Salmon Lake-McGrath Pond Association. The meeting will be held at the Belgrade Center for all Seasons in Belgrade.

View Larger Map