Toby Bottorf looks up from snorkeling Sunday while searching for milfoil in Cushman Pond in Lovell. The property owners along the shore participated in a 27-year effort to rid the pond of milfoil. This year, after three years of finding no infestation, the pond has been declared free of the invasive plant. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Dianne Buck, front, and Maura Bulman follow snorkelers surveying for milfoil Sunday on Cushman Pond in Lovell. After a 27-year effort to rid the pond of milfoil, and finding none the past three years, the pond has been declared free of the invasive plant. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Toby Bottorf chats with Dianne Buck near the end of Sunday’s milfoil survey of Cushman Pond in Lovell. After a 27-year effort, the pond has been declared milfoil-free. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Bob Rooney peers up Sunday from Cushman Pond in Lovell, where he surveyed the pond for milfoil. Divers and snorkelers have surveyed the pond every three weeks in the summer for the past 27 years, removing milfoil. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Dianne Buck, right, snorkeler Toby Bottorf and snorkler Maura Bulman wait in the cove near the end of Sunday’s milfoil survey of Cushman Pond in Lovell. After a 27-year effort, the pond has been declared milfoil-free. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Divers and snorkelers comb the bottom of Cushman Pond on Sunday to verify that milfoil is gone from the Lovell pond. Removal of the invasive weed is a painstaking process and it is rare that milfoil is completely eradicated from a body of water once introduced, a state biologist said. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Marissa Nicol removes one of her two wetsuits Sunday in Cushman Pond in Lovell. Divers and snorkelers involved in the removal of milfoil in the pond look for it every three weeks in the summer and say that the last few dives are very cold. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Parker Buck, 11, gets an assist Sunday from Caled and Ryan Buck in removing his scuba gear by on Cushman Pond in Lovell. Buck Bryant looks on from the right. The community along the small pond has worked for 27 years to eradicate milfoil from the water. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Scott Buck, left, Ken Patrolia, next to him, and Doug Failey, right, spray champagne Sunday after Cushman Pond in Lovell is declared officially free of milfoil after a 27 year campaign of eradication. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Scott Gregory holds up a trophy on Sunday at Cushman Pond in Lovell after the pond was declared milfoil free. The homeowners along the pond participated in a 27 year long effort to rid the pond of milfoil and this year, after three years of finding no infestation, the pond has been declared free of the invasive plant. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal


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