In November of 2012, Secretary John Griffin, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), addressed the subject of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) during his 2012 State of the Lake presentation to the DCL community.   He invited interested parties to comment on proposals by DNR to control the SAV in DCL. Subsequently, at the January 28, 2013, quarterly meeting of the DCL Policy and Review Board (PRB), the POA was formally requested to respond to the DNR Proposal for Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) Control Measures, as were other stakeholders around the lake. The primary reason for the request was that the DNR proposal included a suggested test to be performed in DCL, which would include the introduction of the herbicide 2, 4-D designed to kill EWM. Although effective against EWM, there are consequences to its use that DNR pointed out in their proposal so solicited feedback.

SAV has been present in DCL for many years and is an important component of a healthy lake. Your POA has addressed the issue of SAV many times in the past and there is a current statement on the POA website [http://www.deepcreeklakepoa.com/id31.html] about 'Lake Grasses.' This page on the POA website also links to the 2009 draft report by DNR. Another page titled "eBlasts" [http://www.deepcreeklakepoa.com/id30.html] links to previous POA statements supporting DNR initiatives, such as the Phase II Sedimentation Study, supported in part by the POA last year with a $20,000 contribution.

At the request of the POA Board of Directors, Ken Fisher, a retired botanist, long time lake resident, and POA member prepared a comprehensive, independent review of the DNR proposal and concluded that the DNR SAV Study and surveys should continue but that chemical treatment of EWM at this time should not be undertaken. His paper titled "Comments on DNR Proposal for Pilot Project on Limited Control of Eurasian Watermilfoil in Deep Creek Lake" is now posted on the POA's FAQs page and specifically at [http://www.deepcreeklakepoa.com/id77.html

At the March 2013 meeting of the POA Board of Directors, Mr. Bruce Michael, Director, Resource Assessment Service, DNR, presented an update on DNR's activities on the SAV studies. These studies include the various options for controlling Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) and all the SAV found in DCL. In advance of his presentation, he and the POA Board Members had reviewed the paper written by Ken Fisher, which recommends the continuation of the current SAV surveys to gather more scientific data. At the conclusion of the presentation, the Board passed the following motion: "that POA endorses the scientific approach to SAV control as outlined by Bruce Michael, which may include a pilot program using 2, 4-D at an appropriate time and place as determined by DNR."

The POA has confirmation from DNR that it concurs with the Board's recommendations that (1.) DNR will not implement a controlled 2, 4-D pilot project in 2013(2.) DNR will continue the use of benthic mats to control SAV and assess their impacts on fish populations, and (3.) DNR will continue with both the SAV and targeted EWM surveys. The goals of the surveys are to establish a comprehensive SAV database to determine the health of the DCL SAV populations and determine if EWM increases significantly, or out-competes native DCL SAV and becomes the dominant species.

Sincerely,

Troy Ellington

President