Ocean Shores advisory board readies freshwater master plan; flags toxic algae, harvesting and carp questions

Becky Leach, project manager for the city, told the Ocean Shores Freshwaterways Advisory Board on Wednesday that the city’s Fresh Waterways Master Plan, prepared by Herrera Consultants, is due in June and will prioritize recent increases in toxic algae and invasive aquatic vegetation.

Leach said Herrera’s scope covers the lake and canals and will feed recommended projects, cost estimates and bid documents back to the mayor and city administration for decisions and possible grant pursuit. "The Fresh Waterways Master Plan is due in June from Herrera," Leach said.

The master plan matters because board members and residents reported more aggressive toxic algae in local canals in recent years and recurring invasive plants that block navigation and add biomass to the bottom. Leach offered free water test kits that she said she can bring to the next meeting for board members to collect samples and return for laboratory identification of the algae types.

Board members discussed operational next steps Herrera will support. Leach said the consultant will help write bid documents for lake and canal treatments, assist with contractor selection, monitor contractor work and participate in post-treatment surveys. Tim Hiles, project/grant manager for the city, was identified as staff who will attend meetings to support grant writing and project management.

Several technical constraints were discussed. Board members noted that certain chemical treatments are limited to a seasonal "fish window," which starts in mid-July and ends in October, constraining when some herbicides may be applied; Leach and residents also said some alternative treatments and harvest operations can be used outside that window. "There are studies out there that can be done outside of the fish window that we'll be looking at," Leach said.

The group discussed mechanical harvesting as a longer-term option to reduce herbicide use. Board member Richard Wills, a city council member and trustee of the Freshwaterways Corporation, encouraged members to read the updated Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan (IAVMP) and noted the plan’s history and site-specific approach. "Every canal is different. Every canal needs to be treated differently," Wills said, referencing the 2023 IAVMP update and earlier documents dating to 1998 and 2007.

Residents raised ideas and practical questions about harvesting and biomass use. One resident, Jeff Owens, who gives free boat rides and speaks frequently about waterways, said biomass could be processed into fuel or fertilizer if the city develops a handling plan. Owens urged the board to consider how harvested material would be processed and reused rather than simply disposed. Board members noted that processing and markets would need further study before committing to a harvester purchase.

Board members also raised carp removal and regulation. Participants said Fish and Wildlife has been approached for an exemption specific to Ocean Shores and that local bylaws address certain fishing methods. The group agreed staff should contact the state wildlife agency for clarity on allowable removal methods and any ordinance changes required.

No formal policy or procurement votes were taken at the meeting. The board agreed on several procedural directions: Herrera will finish the master plan and present it, including at a public town hall; staff will provide test kits at the next meeting for volunteer sampling; Herrera will participate in contractor selection and monitoring; and city grant staff will pursue funding opportunities as projects are prioritized.

Practical next steps established at the meeting include a Herrera town hall and presentation of the master plan and the city’s stormwater utility rate study when the plan is released, and staff will bring algae test kits to the next advisory board meeting. The board also set its June meeting for June 2 at 1 p.m. at the library to avoid a room conflict.

The discussion combined technical constraints (seasonal treatment windows), consultant-led procurement planning, citizen volunteer sampling, and exploratory ideas about harvesting and reuse of vegetation. Board members repeatedly urged reading the IAVMP update, and staff pledged to circulate materials and testing instructions before the next meeting.