Silver Lake milfoil treatment begins

Milfoil has been an issue at Silver Lake for many years and property owners now will have a chance to alleviate it.

At an April 29 meeting at St. Anne’s Parish in Medical Lake, Bruce Bruscia, a member of the ASLO (Associated Silver Lake Owners) announced that property owners received a permit from the Washington state Department of Ecology that will allow for the application of Clearcast herbicide to 150 acres of the lake.

Clearcast is classified as practically nontoxic to birds, fish, algae and aquatic invertebrate and has been granted a tolerance exemption by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Once it touches the leaves, it travels down to the roots. From there the weed will die in place and drop to the bottom.

Efforts to treat the milfoil began in 2005. As property owners applied for permits to treat the lake with chemicals, residents on the northern end of the lake voiced their concerns about the effect that herbicide — specifically “2,4-D” a toxic and selective herbicide — would have on the lake, which is a source of drinking water for many residents and used for swimming. They were also asking to consider using other herbicides and manmade methods of treating the milfoil.

Property owners on both sides went through several meetings. During this time, Ecology presented Clearcast, a more expensive, but a more environmentally safe alternative to 2,4-D.

“We agreed that Clearcast was the safer option,” Brusicia said.

Sonya Marlton is one of the property owners on the north side of the lake who attended the negotiations.

“We recognized that Clearcast is the better alternative,” Marlton said. “I’m not saying it’s the best answer, but it’s a better alternative.”

Bruscia explained that the permit only allows the lake to be treated in July. He hopes it can be modified to allow treatment in the spring.

“If treatment is in the spring the herbicide will be more effective,” Bruscia said.

Dr. Tom Wimpy, who will be applying the herbicide to the lake, plans to spray in mid-to-late July. He will contact property owners and ask how much of their waterfront they would want to be

“It will cost $1,705 per acre.” Wimpy said. “A quarter of an acre would range around $260. I realize there’s lot variation when it comes to how much waterfront you have.”

On the day he plans to apply Clearcast, Wimpy will also place signs on the northern and southern borders of the lake that ask people not to swim or boat on the water.

The permit only allows for two treatments of Clearcast for two years and residents will have to wait 2-4 weeks to see how effective it is. During this time, Marlton and other property owners will conduct lab testing to monitor the effects the herbicide has on the lake as well make sure Wimpy is putting the appropriate amount of concentration of Clearcast into the lake.

“We’re making sure there will be no adverse effects from the herbicide,” Marlton said.

If Clearcast is not effective against the milfoil after the two treatments, property owners have the option of treating the lake with 2,4-D. If that happens, Marlton said Ecology would provide property owners with potable drinking water during the treatments.

Bruscia said the application of Clearcast is the first step in treating the milfoil.

“This is not the be all, end all,” Bruscia said. “We have no illusions that all of the weeds will be completely eliminated after the first application. Hopefully people will see the success of this and jump on the bandwagon.”

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.