I thank the Sun Journal for the article published Feb. 26 titled “The cost of invasive species just too great.” I’d like to bring attention to one fairly critical error, highlighted in the breakout and repeated several times in the content of the article.

The article states that the “number of non-native aquatic plant species found in Maine” is 11. Actually only four of the 11 plants listed by state law as “imminent threats to Maine waters” have been confirmed in Maine waters. Variable leaf water-milfoil (and in two cases, a hybrid version of the plant) is the most widespread, known to occur in 19 water bodies. The other three, hydrilla, curly leaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil, are known to occur in one water body each.

Roberta Hill, Maine Center

for Invasive Aquatic Plants,

Woodbury Brackett Environmental Center, Auburn

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