Lake Gaston advocates ask Halifax County for $416,000 to continue invasive weed and algae treatments

A representative of the Lake Gaston Association and the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council urged Halifax County commissioners on Dec. 2 to provide $416,000 in funding for ongoing invasive weed and algae treatments along the county shoreline.

Daniel Boham, who identified himself as a Halifax County resident, vice president of the Lake Gaston Association and president of the Heather Glen Homeowners Association, told the board he and volunteers have worked for years surveying and treating shoreline vegetation. Boham thanked commissioners and staff for a prior county contribution of $116,000 last fiscal year that went toward invasive-weed and algae control on Lake Gaston.

Boham said the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council has spent approximately $400,000 per year over the last three years treating landia [sic], algae along the Halifax County shoreline and that lake-wide treatment forecasts called for $1,500,000 to treat 500 acres of algae and 200 acres of the invasive species (named in the transcript as “Nigrella”) and other invasive weeds. He noted that volunteers logged survey hours and that treatments, he said, had improved conditions in specific coves he and volunteers surveyed.

“Halifax County’s funding is critical to this environment and human health issue,” Boham said, and he asked the county manager and commissioners to submit and approve the requested $416,000 so treatments would continue without delay.

Board members acknowledged Boham’s remarks and recognized another Lake Gaston representative in the audience, Jeff Zimmer. Commissioners did not take action on the request during the meeting; the item was presented during the public comment period for the board’s consideration in the county’s budget and funding process.

Clarifying details provided during the comment: - Boham said the Lake Gaston Association has more than 2,100 members (transcript: “over 22100 members” appears to be a transcription error; speaker context indicates a large membership). The Lake Gaston Weed Control Council coordinates volunteers and treatments across the five counties that border Lake Gaston. - Boham said past spending averaged about $400,000 per year across the county shoreline; he asked Halifax County to contribute $416,000 for the program and to avoid delays in funding.

Commissioners acknowledged the request and did not vote on it during the Dec. 2 meeting. The speaker thanked the board and said he looked forward to working with the new commissioners.