A state official wants to close access to a cove off Lake Memphremagog in northern Vermont to prevent an invasive plant species from spreading.
A patroller found evidence last summer of starry stonewort in Scott's Cove in Newport City.
Starry stonewort is an invasive species that migrated to the U.S. from Europe. It creates thick mats that float up and down, which can choke waterways by blocking sunlight below and preventing people or fish from getting through.
The Caledonian Record reports that state aquatic biologist Anne Bove wants to close the cove so she can determine the extent of the plant's spread, but she needs a permit.
The state could then try to reduce or remove the plant by either vacuuming it up or using pesticides.
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