Invasive lake weeds and the DNR.

[Woodznutz]

It's the time of summer for the DNR's to issue warnings about invasive lake weeds and instructions about preventing their spread. The irony is that the same DNR that issues such warnings and instructions forbids the removal of these weeds from large areas of our lakes, as they are 'sanctuary cover' for the prey species, that game fish such as Northern pike feed on, to reproduce and find shelter. The fact is that these weeds can be maintain at depths below which watercraft and trailers will catch and transport them to other lakes, as well as still provide adequate shelter for those prey species. Such regular harvesting would provide cleaner waters, food for game fish, a rich source of compost, and a better experience for all who enjoy the lakes.

 

[jackflash]

It's the time of summer for the DNR's to issue warnings about invasive lake weeds and instructions about preventing their spread. The irony is that the same DNR that issues such warnings and instructions forbids the removal of these weeds from large areas of our lakes, as they are 'sanctuary cover' for the prey species, that game fish such as Northern pike feed on, to reproduce and find shelter. The fact is that these weeds can be maintain at depths below which watercraft and trailers will catch and transport them to other lakes, as well as still provide adequate shelter for those prey species. Such regular harvesting would provide cleaner waters, food for game fish, a rich source of compost, and a better experience for all who enjoy the lakes.

Invasive weeds, like mill foil? There's a lake, (Eloika Lake) in our general Deer Park area, actually the lake is closer to a lil town named Elk(unincorporated). 40 years ago Eloika Lake was solid millfoil north-south, east-west like H2o could not be visually seen in the lake. Folks lakefront property values plummeted & lawsuits finally/SLOWLY motivated Spokane county to SOMEWHAT clean it up. I just checked Eloika lake on google maps & the shoreline STILL has a 80-100 foot wide millfoil/algae green beard bordering 100% of the beachfront 40 years later! The problem; LOW TAX REVENUE = LOW PUBLIC SERVICE. Just pan out on google maps & look around Eloika lake like where's the tax revenue? Millers One Stop convenience store/Hardware store @ the corner of highway 2 & Elk road, plus Toners Sand & Gravel along with a few pitiful small repair shops is it.

If you doubt the low tax revenue = low public service just go west on google maps to highway 395 & check out both Loon Lake & Deer Lake, like those two lakes are clear or close to clear of millfoil. They are also LOADED with beach front homes/docks & resorts which equates to TAX REVENUE. What aggravates me is that both Deer lake & Loon lake are located within Stevens county, a county with only 45,000 folks total including children, & they manage to keep their lakes pristine. In Spokane county with well over a half million folks & tax revenue up the wazoo & Spokane county government can't even bring a once beautiful lake(now a big mudpuddle) back to being a quality lake.

It's been this way for a loooong time.

Eloika Lake May Get A Dam Community Association Wants To Fight Weeds With Water Regulation

The whine of Jet-Skis and squeals of swimmers accompany the August sun at most lakes near Spokane. But Wednesday morning, George Butrick shared 650-acre Eloika Lake with just one other fisherman, assorted waterfowl and fish that hid in an underwater forest of weeds. The fish were mostly...

www.spokesman.com

 

[Woodznutz]

Invasive weeds, like mill foil? There's a lake, (Eloika Lake) in our general Deer Park area, actually the lake is closer to a lil town named Elk(unincorporated). 40 years ago Eloika Lake was solid millfoil north-south, east-west like H2o could not be visually seen in the lake. Folks lakefront property values plummeted & lawsuits finally/SLOWLY motivated Spokane county to SOMEWHAT clean it up. I just checked Eloika lake on google maps & the shoreline STILL has a 80-100 foot wide millfoil/algae green beard bordering 100% of the beachfront 40 years later! The problem; LOW TAX REVENUE = LOW PUBLIC SERVICE. Just pan out on google maps & look around Eloika lake like where's the tax revenue? Millers One Stop convenience store/Hardware store @ the corner of highway 2 & Elk road, plus Toners Sand & Gravel along with a few pitiful small repair shops is it.

If you doubt the low tax revenue = low public service just go west on google maps to highway 395 & check out both Loon Lake & Deer Lake, like those two lakes are clear or close to clear of millfoil. They are also LOADED with beach front homes/docks & resorts which equates to TAX REVENUE. What aggravates me is that both Deer lake & Loon lake are located within Stevens county, a county with only 45,000 folks total including children, & they manage to keep their lakes pristine. In Spokane county with well over a half million folks & tax revenue up the wazoo & Spokane county government can't even bring a once beautiful lake(now a big mudpuddle) back to being a quality lake.

It's been this way for a loooong time.

Eloika Lake May Get A Dam Community Association Wants To Fight Weeds With Water Regulation

The whine of Jet-Skis and squeals of swimmers accompany the August sun at most lakes near Spokane. But Wednesday morning, George Butrick shared 650-acre Eloika Lake with just one other fisherman, assorted waterfowl and fish that hid in an underwater forest of weeds. The fish were mostly...

www.spokesman.com

Great article, thanks.

Lakes are generally not natural features on the land but scars from geological events, primarily glaciation. As low-lying depressions they collect water and the fertile runoff from the surrounding watershed. To maintain them for human esthetic and recreational use they must be maintained against the natural process of eventual infilling and conversion to marsh and eventually woodland and prairie. The best way to do this is to remove the accumulated fertility from the sediments. This is accomplished by vigorous harvesting the aquatic vegetative growth. This reduces the fertility of the sediment and the water column and eventually leads to clearer water and a much more desirable environment for human use and enjoyment.