The town of Cumberland is considering buying land to make a boat launch into Forest Lake, to the dismay of most lake residents.

Forest Lake is located at the axis of the borders of Windham, Gray and Cumberland and is currently only accessible through private property.

Betty Williams, project manager for the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District who oversees the lake, said about 15 to 20 percent of the lake is in Cumberland, half is in Windham and the rest is in Gray.

Lake residents worry that the boat launch would upset the ecosystem of Forest Lake and disturb the houses built around it.

A particular concern is the invasive plant myriophyllum, commonly known as milfoil. This fast-growing, invasive plant can get caught in the motor of a boat and spread to another body of water when the boat is moved. Milfoil competes for space with native aquatic plants, lowering water quality and hurting biodiversity.

Forest Lake currently does not have milfoil.

Williams said there is a correlation in lakes between public access and milfoil problems.

“You get that much more traffic coming in and out of lakes,” she said. “You have some that are conscious of keeping their boats clean and some that are not.”

“Almost any lake we have in Maine with public access has milfoil,” said Denise Tanguay, 41, who lives on the Windham shore of Forest Lake.

Tanguay said people who don’t live on the lake wouldn’t care as much about cleaning the milfoil out of their motors as much as the lake residents. She said people can be taught all the problems caused by milfoil.

“But you can’t teach someone to care,” said Tanguay.

She ran a business called Hang With Tang that taught children how to water ski on Forest Lake in the 90’s, but closed it down because she felt boat traffic was too thick.

“It’s dangerous, especially if you get someone who’s a weekend warrior and doesn’t know what they’re doing,” she said.

Steve Moriarty, chairman of the Cumberland Town Council, said the boat ramp is just an idea at this time and he is waiting for the results of a survey of all Cumberland residents before he takes a stance. The results of that survey, which will reveal the opinion the average Cumberland resident has on the boat ramp, are due early this month.

“I’m simply not clear on how strong the public interest is in regards to access to the lake,” said Moriarty.

The council has until April to reach a decision.

Moriarty said no details of the boat ramp have been decided, such as if it will need to be monitored, hours open, and if there will be space for trash cans and bathrooms.

Because the lake is only 200 acres in size, Moriarty said he does not want it to be open to large boats.

“I see this as a canoe and kayak launching point, as well as relatively small boats,” said Moriarty.

Windham resident Ray Mercier, 75, remembers when a speed boat crashed through a wind surfing vessel on the lake. He said the wind surfer was able to jump to safety in time, but fears public access would make the lake more dangerous.

“There’s a lot of people who do not know the rules and regulations of a power boat. They just buy a boat and throw a motor on it and throw it in the water and take off,” he said.

Mercier has lived on the lake for 29 years. He said more motors mean more gas and oil in the water.

“I’m a person who habitually does not flip out over motors, in fact I do not own a motor at this time,” said Mercier. He owns a canoe, paddle boat and a 10-foot sailboat.

Dave Ladrie, 61, of Windham said his family has lived on Forest Lake since the 1950s.

“I’m for it,” said Ladrie of the public boat ramp. He said he would support limitations on the size of boat motors allowed on the lake if the ramp is approved.

Ladrie said he was not informed that the town of Cumberland had held a meeting on Jan. 15 discussing the issue until after it was over. Only lake residents who live in Cumberland were informed by the town, but word of mouth over the issue brought many Windham and Gray residents to the meeting.

“I think the lake’s pretty crowded as it is,” said Phil Duff, 62, of Windham. He said Forest Lake boaters all travel counter-clockwise to avoid hitting one another and the visiting public might be unaware of the policy.

“I have serious concerns but I have an open mind,” said Bill Spitzinger, 57, of Gray.

Spitzinger, who likes to take long, slow cruises on the lake after dark, said he would support a hand-carry restriction, a measure that would only allow boats that can be lifted by hand.

He said visitors would be unaware of the delicate loon nests or the shallow water above the sunken island which pose a hazard for speed boats.