Substance on lake from hatching insects

CROSS LAKE – While the original report was that sewage, human waste and toilet paper were floating on Cross Lake on Saturday night, it turned out that the material was from an insect hatch.

Residents along the lake’s Cyr Road were concerned about the waste on the lake. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection was called.

One report was that it looked like sludge, such as from a septic system overflow.

The DEP sent Jim Granlich to investigate Saturday evening.

A spokesman at the Presque Isle DEP office Monday said it was Granlich’s conclusion that the material on the lake was from hatching insects.

It was explained as skeletal remains given off after a huge hatching of bugs. “Exoskeletal remains” was the explanation.

Granlich, who was out in the field Monday, could not be reached.