LEWISTON – Six Maine organizations will seek approximately $4 million in funds over the next three years to fight invasive aquatic plants.

Representatives from the Lakes Environmental Association, Little Sebago Lake Association, St. Joseph’s College, the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed, and the Maine Congress of Lake Associations were present Friday at the Ninth Annual Maine Milfoil Summit.

According to Amy Smagula of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, New England has seven native species of milfoil and two non-native invasive species: variable-leaf milfoil and Eurasian watermilfoil. According to the associations, 28 Maine lakes are infested with milfoil, which can lower water quality, form mats that inhibit recreation, and decrease property values.

Smagula said New Hampshire has 62 affected lakes.

Scott Lowell, of the Little Sebago Lake Association, said the groups are seeking $2.8 million from federal appropriations, $800,000 from competitive federal grants, $150,000 from a state match, and $250,000 in private funds.

“The proposal basically amounts to an earmark on a federal appropriations bill,” said Lowell.

The associations are seeking $1.25 million as part of the 2009 fiscal year Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. In a recorded video message, Sen. Susan Collins supported the effort, calling milfoil “a serious threat to our state’s water resources, particularly our beautiful lakes.”

Maggie Shannon of the Maine Congress of Lakes Associations spoke in support of proposed state legislation by the Department of Environmental Protection. The legislation would allow towns to assess an annual fee to property owners who use a substandard private road that contributes to poor lake quality via storm water runoff. The legislation would also require developers to be certified by the DEP in erosion control practices before excavation in a shore land zone.

The DEP is also recommending that the storm water law compensation fee language be amended, allowing the commissioner to set a fee rate of up to $25,000 per pound of available phosphorus. The amendment allows a mitigation option, without a fee, if it is determined that the option will provide as much long term reduction of phosphorus loading into the lake as would likely have occurred with the fee payment.

Karen Hahnel of the Maine Invasive Aquatic Plant Program of the DEP, said the state will merge a milfoil sticker with a boat registration sticker, which will result in $60,000 in administrative savings.

“This is not an extra cost to the boaters,” she said.

Hahnel said motorized boats on inland waterways are required to have a milfoil sticker. The cost will remain $10 for Maine residents and $20 for out-of-state boaters.

Lt. Adam Gormley of the Maine Warden Service said the department has seen refusals to buy a milfoil sticker on the argument that a boat doesn’t leave a specific lake. Gormley said the sticker fees are used to address the statewide milfoil problem.

“We’re seeing an increase in people’s awareness,” he said.

Gormley said the Warden Service has several responsibilities, and relies on boat inspectors and other volunteers to report any milfoil problems or boating violations related to milfoil.

Smagula said the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services received $1 million from the Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct milfoil research. She said studies revealed that milfoil grows in waters with low iron, low total organic carbon, and coarse sandy soil.

Smagula said possible solutions to milfoil infestation include herbicides and the use of native nematode species, which can kill the plant by injecting bacteria.

“Ultimately, a bio-control is best for one plant,” she said.