LEWISTON — Organizers don’t believe predictions of rain or snow will deter a milfoil conference planned for this Friday.

The 11th Annual Milfoil Summit will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 26 at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College. The meeting will give an update on ongoing efforts to fight invasive species of milfoil. These aquatic plants may disturb the ecological balance in a water body, reduce property values and inhibit recreational activities.

Following an introduction from Peter Lowell, executive director of the Lakes Environmental Association, the summit will hear a presentation by Jackey Bailey, a director and researcher with the Maine Milfoil Consortium. Bailey will discuss how Maine plans to use $500,000 in federal funding to fight milfoil.

Bailey will be followed by Meg Modley, aquatic nuisance species coordinator with the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Modley will talk about federal, state, provincial and local initiatives in the fight against milfoil at that lake. Also speaking will be George Smith, executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

The summit is scheduled to adjourn at noon, following a period for questions and answers. It will be followed by a courtesy boat inspector training session from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and a training session on mapping infestations from 1 to 4 p.m. All organizations seeking grants from the Department of Environmental Protection for boat inspection programs must send at least one representative to the training.

The summit is free, but people wishing to attend are asked to contact the Lakes Environmental Association. Attendees may also call 647-8580 on the morning of the summit in the event of inclement weather to see if the event has been canceled. For more information, visit www.mainelakes.org/MilfoilSummit.htm.

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