LAKE STEVENS — Eurasian watermilfoil, beware.
Lake Stevens and Snohomish County are ready to begin herbicide treatment to remove the noxious aquatic weed from the nearly 1,100-acre lake. Eurasian watermilfoil was found
growing in 10 percent of Lake Stevens’ surface area, in a report completed last summer. The feathery weed latches onto boats and trailers, spreads into lakes and rivers and grows quickly. Dense patches make boating difficult and swimming dangerous.
The City Council voted in October to use the herbicide, triclopyr, to rid the lake of milfoil.
The herbicide treatment will begin the week of July 11 if weather allows, city public works director Mick Monken said.
“The worse-case scenario is (the application) will take two days but it will likely be one day,” he said.
The city expects to put up signs at public areas around the lake to inform people about the treatment after July 4, Monken added. The initial treatment is expected to eliminate up to 90 percent of the watermilfoil, but it wouldn’t be unusual for a few plants to grow back. Follow-up surveys will be performed and spot treatments might be necessary to completely eradicate the weed, Monken said.
Consultants are planning to review results of the application within a few weeks of the treatment and develop a post treatment plan for the city. The total cost of the treatment and planning services is about $167,824. The city received a $75,000 grant from the state Department of Ecology to help with the treatment.
The city expects to continue work to educate boaters about ways to keep watermilfoil from returning, Monken said. Allied Waste has provided a receptacle at the public boat launch in which to dump the aquatic plants, and the city will post signs at the docks.
Triclopyr herbicide has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Ecology for application in rivers and lakes throughout the state. The herbicide dissolves in water and is made to kill Eurasian watermilfoil and not native plants, mammals, fish or waterfowl. The Department of Ecology imposes a 12-hour swimming restriction on bodies of water after they are treated with triclopyr, to protect against possible eye irritation.
The city’s website will provide updates. A list of frequently asked questions about triclopyr compiled by the state Department of Ecology is on the city’s website at http://tinyurl.com/lstevens.
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.
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