Happy World Water Day lovers of Lake Pend Oreille!  

In this edition of Our Lake For Life, we've continued our series on Aquatic Invasive Species and discuss LPOW's goal of diminished use of aquatic herbicides as a control mechanism.

We need your help! We need you to make your voice heard, so that our community will be considered when authorities decided if King Coal can transport astonishing amounts of coal through your back yard, and so that the Clean Water Act stays strong!   

Also, learn how you can support our work by Dining Out on March 29th at the Little Olive Mediterranean restaurant!    

Thank you for caring and taking a moment to be informed!

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Aquatic Herbicides: Are They Worth It?  

Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM), a noxious aquatic invasive plant, has become a well known nuisance in Lake Pend Oreille for the last 6+ years. See this past edition of our news letter for more background on why this plant is a problem by clicking here.  The Idaho State Department of Agriculture has jurisdiction over aquatic invasive plant species such as EWM, and has focused the vast majority of its efforts at control on the use of aquatic herbicides. Almost five million taxpayer dollars were allocated over a three-year time period (2006-2009) in an attempt to first eradicate and then control EWM in the Lake Pend Oreille system, with the vast majority dedicated to herbicides. Each year, additional funds are allocated to herbicides, although the intensity of treatment has been scaled back. Despite heavy chemical attack, EWM is still going strong.

Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper is a participating member of the Bonner County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force and advocates for the responsible and diminished use of herbicides to control aquatic invasive weeds. Why? Herbicides are hazardous to our health and the ecosystem. The herbicides that have been applied to the lake are linked to cancers, hormone disorders, neurological disorders, reproductive disorders and many other ailments. During every chemical treatment, drinking water and irrigation restrictions are put into place, but are often misunderstood by the people who are directly impacted. Alternatively, LPOW supports the use of ecologically sensitive approaches to control populations of EWM and other aquatic invasive weeds including biological control (the use of naturally occurring predators or pathogens, like the weevil insect and various microbes), manual removal, the use of bottom barriers to block sunlight and the reduction of excess nutrients (which stimulate plant growth). While there is no 'silver bullet' to controlling these aquatic invaders, we believe that integrative, sustainable and non-toxic methods such as those mentioned above can be highly effective.