Lake management committee confirms fluridone treatment this spring; boat-launch permit and contract amendment still pending city approval

The City of Tumwater Lake Management District steering committee said it will proceed with a full-lake fluridone herbicide treatment this spring and is coordinating a temporary widening of an existing private boat launch to accommodate the contractor's airboat and survey boat.

Committee members said the contractor, Scott (contractor, not present), is planning the fluridone application for May, with a lake survey the week before. Committee member comments described the planned application as a whole-lake treatment rather than a spot treatment and said the contractor will use two boats: a smaller skiff for surveying and an airboat with a larger tank for herbicide application.

The committee emphasized that fluridone works best when target plants are actively growing. City staff noted the contractor will “do a survey a week prior” to check plant growth and distribution, and the committee discussed that the treatment strategy and frequency depend on shallow-depth mixing and plant growth rather than a…