Media Release (PDF >)
Cascade Water Alliance has been awarded a $30,000 grant by the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) to develop a plan for the eradication of Eurasian milfoil on Lake Tapps. The grant, announced on April 28, was one of 12 awarded by DOE for projects that control invasive, non-native, plants in Washington lakes.
Cascade has hired an environmental consultant, Tetra Tech, to research the current milfoil condition in the lake and to recommend strategies for milfoil eradication. On March 31 over 120 members of the Lake Tapps community came to a public meeting to hear about the pros and cons of treatment options, ask questions and offer comment. A second milfoil public meeting is set for May 11, and a third meeting will be held on June 10.
Cascade’s Lake Tapps milfoil eradication plan is nearly complete. Tetra Tech also conducted a survey of Lake Tapps to determine the location of milfoil infestations. On May 11 Cascade and Tetra Tech will share details of the milfoil eradication plan and the results of the infestation survey with the community.
“We are very pleased to receive support from the State to help eradicate milfoil from Lake Tapps,” says Jon Shimada, project manager. “The big turnout on March 31 is a good indication of the level of interest and concern about milfoil in Lake Tapps. It’s a real problem and Cascade wants to work with the community to eliminate it.”
Milfoil poses environmental and maintenance challenges for a healthy lake. According to DOE milfoil starts spring growth earlier than native aquatic plants and can out shade these beneficial plants. Because it is widely distributed and difficult to control, milfoil is considered by DOE the most problematic plant in Washington State.
Cascade purchased Lake Tapps from Puget Sound Energy in December, 2009. Puget had operated the lake for hydroelectric power generation for almost a century and stopped power production in 2004.
Cascade Water Alliance is a non-profit corporation, comprised of the cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Tukwila, the Covington Water District and the Sammamish Plateau and Skyway Water and Sewer Districts to provide safe, clean and reliable water to its 370,000 residents and 22,000 businesses.
For more information on Cascade Water Alliance and the upcoming Lake Tapps milfoil public meetings, visit our Community Meetings page
