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Barnes Lake committee confirms multi-stage fluridone treatment, monthly monitoring plan
Summary
Committee members reviewed this year’s approved fluridone herbicide plan, scheduled follow-up treatments and monthly water-quality monitoring; contractor access and timing for lily-pad treatment were discussed.
Barnes Lake Management District steering committee members said the district will proceed with a multi-application fluridone treatment this season and continue monthly water-quality sampling.
Committee members said the contractor plans an initial whole-lake fluridone application within about one to two weeks, followed by one or more follow-up treatments to maintain the required concentration; staff estimated follow-up work likely in mid to late June and noted lily-pad treatments occur later in the season when they are more effective.
The treatment schedule matters because fluridone is a systemic herbicide that requires sustained concentrations to control invasive bladderwort; staff said the product commonly needs to remain at treatment concentration for several weeks (staff referenced either 30 or 60 days, saying the label language varies and they had not rechecked it at the meeting). The committee discussed formulations—liquid for faster dispersion and pellets for slower build-up—and that liquid application will show effects faster.
On monitoring, the committee confirmed a plan to collect monthly water-quality samples through the summer. City staff said they will attempt to get a May sample and continue monthly sampling as long as lake access remains feasible; sampling will use kayaks if boat access is limited by low lake levels.
Committee members and staff said contractor Scott from AquaTechnics (the firm that performs treatments and aerial photography) is scheduled to perform aerial photos and treatments; staff noted Scott had already done a recent boat survey and that the contractor will return for treatment and subsequent monitoring.
Members emphasized that lily-pad (broadleaf waterlily) treatment is handled separately from whole-lake fluridone timing: lily-pad work is scheduled later in the season and may not show results until August or September. A staff member cautioned that individual shoreline vegetation cutting by residents does not substitute for permitted chemical treatment and advised residents to avoid unpermitted removal.
The committee also discussed homeowner-funded, targeted private treatments at the north end of the lake; staff said those remain possible but are separate from the district-funded whole-lake fluridone program.
Committee members will continue coordinating treatment timing, contractor access, and sampling cadence over the summer, and will circulate treatment notifications to residents as required.
