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Caution urged during lakeshore weed control
Published 7:49am Monday, June 28, 2010When it comes to aquatic weed control, most aquatic herbicides do not present any threat to fish or wildlife, when used as directed. However, Steve Henry of the East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District urges property owners to avoid the use of chlorum near lakes.
“It’s good to look at labels,” said Henry on Saturday morning to members of the Otter Tail County Coalition of Lake Associations (COLA) which met in Ottertail at the community center. “Make sure you use chemicals that don’t contribute to soil contamination. Chlorum should not be used near lakes. Other chemicals don’t have nearly the same level as chlorum.”
Henry spoke about his area of expertise, lakeshore landscaping, during his address. COLA is the organization that represents the various lake associations throughout Otter Tail County. In addition to his work with lakeshore property owners, Henry also works with excavation companies and with county agencies.
“We now have a GIS specialist in house,” he said, “with data on lakeshore. We can tell property owners if they have enough vegetation in order to prevent runoff.”
Without property landscaping with native plants with deep roots, phosphorus runoff after rainfall can make lakes and rivers green and lead to excessive aquatic plant growth. Impairment of a lake for swimming is another adverse effect.
“With landscaping, a property owner can stabilize, beautify and purify,” said Henry. “Deep-rooted plants, wild flowers and shrubs will help prevent excess water runoff into lakes.”
He said that purification is all about healthy roots in native plants. Water quality, he added, is all about the roots along lakeshores.
Grass, he said, has only one foot of filtration. Native grasses, on the other hand, have as much and five and even 10 feet of roots for proper filtration following rainfall.
“We recommend plants for landscaping that are adapted to the soil, sun and moisture,” said Henry. “We urge the use of biodegradable erosion controls.”
In Otter Tail County, AmeriCorps volunteers have assisted with various plantings for buffers along shorelines. More good news for Henry and lakeshore conservationists is the establishment of an aquatic management area at Marion Lake, east of Dent and south of Perham.
Henry’s e-mail is steve.henry@mn.nacdnet.net and he can be reached by phone at 218-346-4260. The web site is www.eotscwd.org
