Services We Offer.
Surveying
One of the best ways to prevent the spread of milfoil or other invasive aquatic species is early detection. Surveying is typically done with one or more divers in the water who will search for and identify possible invasive species. Once an invasive is identified, it will be mapped with GPS, properly and safely removed, and further inspected to confirm its species. Surveying can also be used to further assess the extent of an established invasive colony.
Hand Pulling
A method used to manage areas of milfoil that may be less dense. Hand pulling is similar to suction harvesting but requires less equipment. This allows us to cover more ground and get into hard to reach areas.
Suction Harvesting
Suction harvesting requires a diver to be under the water to remove each plant and root mass by hand. Once removed, the plant is fed into a suction hose that transports plant material to our DASH boat. On the DASH boat, the plant material is contained in a sluice box which sorts the plants into mesh onion bags that will later be carried to shore and its contents to be eventually composted.
Benthic Barrier Placement/Fabrication
Benthic Barrier placement is another effective way to manage dense milfoil colonies. When deployed, benthic barriers cover large colonies of milfoil and block out any sun the plant needs for photosynthesis. Once the plants are sun deprived they will quickly breakdown and decompose. After roughly 10-12 weeks the benthic barriers can be removed from the area leaving behind bare lake bottom for native plants to grow.
Grant & Report Writing
SMIAM has a close relationship with Maine DEP and has over 5 years of grant writing experience.