The Weed Watcher program continues to be very successful.  We now have 65 active volunteers covering nearly all of the shoreline including the Scribner River.  We are proud to say that our lake continues to be free of any exotic weeds. This is particularly good news since several of our neighboring lakes are infested with milfoil.  These lakes include Belleau, Balch, Winnipesauke, and Wentworth.

This past July we were fortunate to have Amy Smagula of the NH Department of Environmental Services come to the Lake for a Weed Watcher training event.  She brought along various exotic weeds so we could see them up close and personal.  We then went to the Scribner River where Amy pulled a sampling of the weeds we have in Great East Lake such as Badderwort, Waterweed, Pondweed, water lilies, various grasses, etc.  All of these are native and do not threaten the quality of our Lake.  We will be scheduling another training session like this next year for anyone who wants to participate.

Anyone can be a Weed Watcher!  If you are interested in volunteering please call or email Bess Smith for a Weed Watcher's Kit.  (Phone:  Home 978-689-9202 / Lake 603-522-0074; Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  Even if you are not interested in volunteering at this time, please keep a look out for weeds as you swim or fish at your property.  If you happen to see anything suspicious, give Bess a call or collect it and wrap in a wet paper towel, put it in a plastic baggy and send to either NH DES (603-271-2248) if found in NH or ME DEP (207-283-7733) if found in ME.

Many lakes in Maine and New Hampshire have an exotic weed problem primarily with variable milfoil.  It is considered the number one aquatic plant problem for lake residents, visitors, and aquatic plant managers.  It is spreading at a rate of one to three new waterbodies each year since the 1980's and is taking over lakes at an alarming rate.  Once milfoil is found in a lake it can not be eradicated.  It takes a great deal of money to attempt to control the growth but it can never be stopped completely.  So please, keep your eye out.  If you don't know what milfoil looks like, choose either the Maine or New Hampshire link below for more information.

The NH Department of Environmental Services website, teaches more about the threat of Aquatic Exotic Species.  It gives a very comprehensive look at the plants, the Weed Watcher program and the effects of this very serious problem.

There are excellent Invasive Plant Workshops at  Maine Volunteer Lake Monitors. MVLP works collaboratively with many individuals, organizations, communities, and agencies throughout Maine.

Invasive plant descriptions and pictures.

Report a suspicious plant in Maine

Get information about the Maine Sticker program

Invasive Plant Patrol Training with Maine Volunteer Lake Monitors