Most of our previous reports focus on fishing and what area anglers are catching. However, this week I’d like to talk about the management of two Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife-owned boat launch sites.
This past week, regional staff spent about six days addressing management issues on Little Sebago Lake (Windham) and Cold Rain Pond (Naples). What I learned from these “projects” is just how many good and helpful members of the public are out there working to keep our public waters and access sites clean. I would like to recognize just a few of these people and highlight some recent accomplishments.
The public launch at Little Sebago in Windham was built over 15 years ago and remains one of our most heavily used regional water access sites. The size of this waterfront property limits parking and at times the demand for access exceeds available parking. Fifteen years of tree growth had encroached upon the facility, interfering with access and parking. This growth was removed over a two-day period to restore full use and function to the launch facility and address the need for improved visibility of the property to discourage unwelcome deviant activities.
Anyone who regularly launches at the Little Sebago Lake launch facility has likely met Jim and Jacky Fitzgerald, who greet boaters and request that their boats be inspected for invasive aquatic plants. Jim and Jacky, however, are more than milfoil inspectors; they have become stewards of the facility, voluntarily maintaining a trash receptacle and actively collecting trash to help keep the site clean at no cost to the state or the public. They also try to help with traffic flow during heavy use times and do what they can to maximize available parking capacity in the lot by making sure all space is well used.
Jim also recently volunteered his time to repaint the parking area lines on the asphalt, which had faded, in an effort to ensure limited parking space is being well used. When I asked Jim where he got the paint striper and paint and who paid for it, I was told that Ed Steward of Windham, a regular user of the launch, paid to rent the striper and paint.
At Cold Rain Pond in Naples, a very large ice fishing shack was abandoned, creating quite an eyesore on this picturesque undeveloped pond. While we don’t ordinarily go around collecting abandoned ice shacks, our only neighbors on the pond (the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife owns about two-thirds of the shoreline), the Buck Family, were concerned with the eyesore created by the structure.
In a cooperative effort, members of the Buck Family somehow managed to tow the barely floating ice shack using a canoe and lots of brawn to the IF&W launch site, where we were able to dismantle it and haul it to the dump.
Without the assistance and concern from the Buck Family, this unsightly structure left by some inconsiderate sportsmen would still be marring the views on this pretty undeveloped pond. Signs were also posted prohibiting camping and fires, as these activities are not supported and are inconsistent with the management of this property for water access.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the many caring folks like the Buck Family, Jim and Jacky Fitzgerald and Ed Steward, who are out there (you may be one of them), trying to make a positive difference by getting involved. Thank you!
Anyone proposing to volunteer time on a maintenance project at one of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s water access sites should contact one of the regional fisheries biologists in Gray at 657-2345 to obtain permission prior to undertaking any work, unless of course you’re assisting with trash removal, which is always a welcome activity.
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