MASON COUNTY, Wash. — The Mason County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 16 to create Lake Management District No. 1 for Island Lake, approving an ordinance after county staff presented the results of a ballot of eligible property owners.

Property owners cast 71 ballots of 118 eligible; 64 voted to form the district and seven opposed, the county said. The district is established for 15 years and will be funded by annual rates collected with property taxes to support activities such as weed control, fish habitat protection and water-quality monitoring. A citizen advisory committee will advise the district.

County staff read a news release summarizing the ballot results and the ordinance. ‘‘Of a 118 eligible ballots distributed, 71 were returned,’’ the release said, and among those returned ‘‘64 supported forming the district while only 7 opposed.’’

Randy Lewis, who identified himself as chair of the Island Lake LMD advisory committee and a resident of the neighborhood, told the commissioners the formation followed months of organizing and planning and thanked county staff and local volunteers. "From our point of view, it's been a very much a team effort," Lewis said, and described plans to join statewide lake networks and begin feasibility and work planning.

During public comment and discussion, residents and commissioners raised lake-quality concerns including invasive species and water-quality threats. The county’s news release and Lewis’ remarks noted the district aims to address those issues through organized, funded projects and community oversight.

The board took a voice vote on a motion to approve the ordinance; commissioners signified assent by saying "aye" and the motion passed. The county said implementation will begin with establishing the citizen advisory committee and preparing annual work plans.

The ordinance itself is the formal authority creating Lake Management District No. 1; the county’s news release said the board adopted the ordinance on Sept. 16. The district will operate under the county rules governing lake-management districts and under the limits set out in the ordinance.

County and community leaders said they expect the district to coordinate with other local and regional lake groups to share best practices and technical assistance. Residents who spoke urged the district to focus on boat-cleaning and preventing the spread of invasive species.

The new district will move from formation to operational planning in the coming months, beginning with recruiting members for the citizen advisory committee and preparing the first annual budget and work plan.

For residents seeking more information, Randy Lewis and county staff were identified as contact points during the meeting.