The legislature’s Natural Resources Committee hosted a hearing Tuesday on a bill that could lead to a ban on felt-soled waders in Maine.

LD 252, An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Aquatic Nuisance Species, is sponsored by Representative Jane Eberle, an environmental leader who has focused a great deal of attention on the problem of invasive plants and fish during her tenure in the legislature. During her presentation of the bill, Eberle focused on the potential harm if Didymo, commonly called “rock snot,” gets into Maine’s rivers and streams. Representatives of Maine Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, Congress of Lakes Association, Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance, and the Departments of Environmental Protection and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, all spoke in favor of the bill. There were no opponents.

IF&W’s John Boland said, “The Department is in full support of this effort… and of taking steps that are necessary to prevent invasives from getting to Maine.” Boland said he helped draft the bill and is very concerned about Didymo getting to Maine.

Tom Abello of The Nature Conservancy reported that, “Didymo… is knocking on our door. It has been found in the northern reaches of the Connecticut River in New Hampshire and in the White and Battenkill Rivers in Vermont.” Abello also noted that,” Once established in Maine it will be nearly impossible to remove and can be easily transferred from one water body to another.”

Currently there is no known method for removing Didymo from a water body.

Peter Kallin of the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance, reported that Didymo, “can form large mats on the bottom of lakes, rivers and streams. These dense mats can disrupt native ecology leading to declines in native plant and animal life.

“This microscopic plant is spreading across North America and appears to be spread by contaminated boats and fishing gear such as waders. Clear, flowing trout streams appear especially vulnerable to infestation. The miscroscopic algae can be spread in a single drop of water.”

Hence, the focus on felt-soled waders that Kallin said have been banned in four or five states and several countries. Kallin said Didymo has been known since the nineteenth century in Vancouver and “It’s become a problem because of rich anglers fishing and traveling around the world.”

Patty Aho, DEP Deputy Commissioner, offered a thorough explanation of Eberle’s bill. “The first two sections of this bill clarify the definition of aquatic plant,” she reported. “The current definition is limited to vascular plants, which are plants that have specialized plant tissue to transport water.”

While this definition covers the eleven aquatic plants currently prohibited by statute as highly invasive, Didymo is not a vascular plant, Aho reported. “Having the ability to formally designate this alga as invasive and therefore use resources to curb its spread is important in preparing for the likely introduction of this nuisance,” she testified.

The third section of Eberle’s bill gives the governor more flexibility in selecting members of the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species. Aho said her agency has had trouble filling vacant positions on the Task Force. “For example, the seat on the Task Force representing a ‘statewide recreational watercraft owners association’ has been vacant for several years because this association… is currently inactive.”

The fourth and final section of this bill will be of most interest to anglers.

“Before limiting use of any type of equipment, including felt-soled waders, DIFW and DEP need to examine in more detail the issues related to transport mechanisms and means to avoid and manage such an infestation. This section allows the Departments to review this issue and make recommendations for the relevant (legislative) committees to report out legislation in the next session if warranted,” testified Aho.

I expect the agencies to recommend a ban on felt-soled waders, and Aho offered what will surely be the justification for this recommendation. “With the most extensive native brook trout habitat in the eastern United States, Maine has the most to lose should Didymo invade our streams and potentially affect production of the trout.”

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