Invasive Plant Patrol Workshops

Greetings Invasive Plant Patrollers!

LSM provided training and informational sessions in an online format in 2020 due to the CoViD-19 outbreak. Online trainings from both 2020 and this year were recorded and links are provided below for your viewing at a convenient time. Events as part of our current summer season are posted below and additional postings will be made all summer long.

Quick Links to Additional Resources

• • IPP Handbook – The IPP handbook is updated with new content throughout the year
  • IAS Reporting Guide – Learn how LSM can help you identify suspicious and curious lake phenomena
  • LSM IAP Protocols & Procedures – Additional protocols and procedures for Invasive Plant Patrollers
  • Aquatic Phenomena Photo Submission Form – Please use this form if you wish to submit photos for identification assistance. If you have not submitted photos this way before, please see the IAS Reporting Guide for instructions prior to completing the form. If you are a Certified Boat Inspector, please use this form.
  • Aquatic Plant Botanizer Circle Photo Submission Form – Please use this form if you wish to share photos for at one of our “Aquatic Plant ” online sessions

In-Person Invasive Aquatic Plant Paddles

Plant paddles provide a fun, informal way to learn about the threat of invasive aquatic plants and the importance of early detection.  All attendees will receive (and learn how to use) LSM’s waterproof, tear-resistant “Quick Key” which allows users to quickly determine whether or not any plant found growing in the lake is suspicious.  We will collect samples of native aquatic plants, observe samples of the invasive plants that are known to occur in these waterbodies, and practice skills needed for local invasive aquatic plant survey efforts.

Plant paddles take place both on shore and on the water.  Attendees will need their own shallow draft boats (canoes, kayaks, small row boats or inflatables), paddles, and PFDs.  Other equipment and materials will be provided.

This year, for the first time, we are also offering a shorter (two-hour) Aquatic Invader Tour, especially for experienced IPPers who wish to get some first-hand experience observing invaders in their un-natural habitat.  We will visit two of Maine’s eleven listed invasive aquatic plants on this tour: variable water-milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) and spiny naiad (Najas minor).

Pre-registration is required for all of these events. 

How to Lead an Invasive Plant Paddle

Plant Paddles are guided explorations that take place on shore and on the water. They are a fun, informal way to learn about Maine’s native aquatic plants, as well as the invasive aquatic plants that threaten Maine waters. In this live webinar, Roberta Hill will provide you with everything you need to know about leading a plant paddle on your favorite waterbody. This webinar is open to all and should be especially valuable to those of you who wish to activate (or reinvigorate) an Invasive Plant Patrol team on your lake! There will be plenty of time for questions, answers, and for sharing ideas.

~Link to recording~

Invasive Plant Patrol 101 ~ Online Certification Course

Invasive Plant Patrol 101 (LSM’s IPP certification course) is comprised of three parts:

• • • Part 1 provides a general introduction to the threat of aquatic invaders;
    • Part 2 provides guidance for conducting an invasive plant screening survey, including discussion of tools and techniques; 
    • Part 3 takes a deep dive into Aquatic Plant ID with a focus on the eleven invasive aquatic plants considered to be most imminent threats to our state, and their native look-a-likes.

Participants who wish to become LSM Certified Invasive Plant Patrollers must pass a short online quiz at the conclusion of each course section. The quiz is optional for all others.

In the final stage of certification, participants are asked to collect several aquatic plants on their own, and then attend one of LSM’s regularly scheduled Plant ID Zoom Sessions (schedule and registration below) for feedback on tentative ID’s and/or guided identification.

IPP 101 Parts 1: Introduction to Aquatic Invaders in Maine

~Link to recording~
~Link to Quiz~

IPP 101 Parts 2: How to Hunt for Aquatic Invaders

~Link to recording~
~Link to Quiz~

IPP 101 Part 3: Aquatic Plants; How to Identify Maine’s 11 Most Unwanted and their Common Native Look-Alikes

~Link to recording~
~Link to Quiz~

Please Note: To become an LSM Certified Invasive Plant Patroller you must receive 70% or more on all three quizzes and then send christine@lakestewardsme.org a completed certification form.

Training, Networking and Technical Support Opportunities

These first-come, first-served Zoom-based technical assistance sessions are open to all, but attendance may be limited based upon the session. Larger group and/or customized IPP team meetings may be scheduled by contacting Roberta directly at roberta@lakestewardsme.org.

IPPer Zoom Room

IPPer Zoom Room sessions are be held weekly starting June 22nd and run throughout the survey season. Some sessions will have a theme (to be announced in advance via the LSM e-news); other sessions will be more open ended. We welcome Invasive Plant Patrollers of all ages and abilities to drop in whenever you like to share your IPP experiences, ask questions, discuss challenges, collaborate on actions, or simply to be in the company of fellow lake stewards who share your love of lakes! Please register to join as many sessions as you like!

Aquatic Plant Botanizers’ Circle

Please join us for one of our online plant ID sessions. NO botany skills required, just some pictures of plants from your lake and a dash of curiosity! In keeping with the “teach a man to fish” philosophy of providing assistance, we will help walk you through the process of first, determining if you have found a suspicious plant; and next, identifying your plant. Please submit photos of any plants you would like to share at the session in advance of the session using the form below.

PLEASE click here for directions on how to take a “readable” photo.

Starting Tuesday, June 22, the Aquatic Plant Botanizers’ Circle will held weekly at at 3PM. Please note you must register for each instance separately.
July 20th at 3pm
July 27th at 3pm

Survey123 Webinar Training V.2021.1

LSM’s IAP Screening Survey Documentation forms have gone digital! With the help of our friends at the Maine DEP, and all of you who piloted this new platform last year and provided us with helpful feedback, Invasive Plant Patrollers now have the option of recording screening survey data on their smartphones, tablets, or computers. Paper data forms are still perfectly functional and welcome, but for those of you who wish to go paperless, you now have a great new tool. Please attend this webinar featuring Becky Schaffner from Maine DEP to learn all about the app and how to get started!

Becky will demonstrate the process of accessing and updating the digital screening survey form on Survey123, provide an orientation to each section of the form, and guide us through the data upload process which will allow users to view their submitted data online in near real-time. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.

Please join us for the training demonstration on July 8th at 1 pm

~Link to register for the live demonstration~
For those who are not able to attend, a recording of this webinar will be made available.

~Link to additional information on Survey123~

Advanced Plant ID Webinar Series

Learn how to confidently identify milfoils, bladderworts, and common pondweeds to species level through this 3-part series presented by LSM’s Invasive Species Program Director, Roberta Hill.

Special thanks to York County Invasive Aquatic Species Project Founder and Director, Laurie Callahan, for her extensive help in preparing these webinars.

Advanced Plant ID Part 1 – Milfoils

Special Trainings Focused Upon Recently-Confirmed Infestations

The Hunt for Invasive Milfoil in Big Lake & How You Can Help
~Link to recording~

The Hunt for Invasive Naiad in Lake Arrowhead & How You Can Help
~Link to recording~