SPPOA Newsletter - Milfoil
Last fall, approximately 70 homeowners representing all HOA’s on the Cove met in Town Hall to discuss the ever-growing milfoil concerns in the Cove. The group decided on a plan of attack that involved:
creating volunteer groups to dig milfoil out in shallow common areas.
have DEP provide the Cove with yellow milfoil buoys to alert those who come into the Cove of the milfoil.
to relocate the water-ski slalom out of the Cove.
to raise money to clear the channel of milfoil.
to have waterfront homeowners, mooring groups, and common dock areas around the Cove address the milfoil in their “waterfront” areas.
to create a 501c3 nonprofit association to deal with common milfoil concerns throughout the Cove.
have LEA and DEP provide the Cove with a 3-yr plan on how best to address the milfoil so it will not be noticeable for general use.
I am happy to say that 6 out of the 7 goals were met. The one item not resolved is the water-ski slalom. There is currently no law preventing someone from boating in a milfoil-infested area. We hope to change this and are actively working on getting a bill written.
The nonprofit assoc we developed (#6 above) and has been approved for 501c3 status is named the Sebago Cove Preservation Association (SCPA). This new assoc has board members from the four HOA’s that surround the Cove—SPPOA, Sebago Harbor Association, Lakeview, and Sebago Cove Estates. In addition to the board members being from various neighborhoods around the cove, members of all 4 HOA boards (SPPOA, Sebago Harbor, Lakeview, Sebago Estates), as well as mooring groups and comm dock groups have representation in the newly formed association so no one’s issues/concerns with milfoil or water quality goes unnoticed.
Milfoil is an invasive plant that is not native to the United States. It is a weed, and the Cove has the perfect conditions for it to grow in—muddy bottom and relatively shallow.
Between NE Milfoil and LEA there will be a presence in the Cove for most of the summer suctioning the milfoil out.
The Sebago Cove Preservation Association will be having a meeting on June 21 from 9-10 at Naples Town Hall. All are welcome.
Thanks to all of you who donated to the channel clean-up for summer 2025 and special thanks to all of you who spent last fall and this spring digging out milfoil in shallow common areas with your waders on. Also, to the group of people who worked all winter via Zoom to form the new association and meet with DEP and LEA. A lot of work was done, a lot of money was raised and if we stay on this track, the benefits will be dramatic in a couple of years.
If we follow this plan, the experts agree that although we will never be milfoil free, we will be able to enjoy the Cove without being impacted by the milfoil.
To learn more about what the Sebago Cove Preservation Assoc is doing you can reach out to them at Savesebagocove@aol.com
