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Northern region seeks $137,000 for two‑phase milfoil control at Pelican Lake
Summary
DWR aquatic‑invasive species staff proposed a two‑phase herbicide treatment using ProcellaCOR to control Eurasian and hybrid milfoil at Pelican Lake; the first phase targets 330 surface acres and the councils were asked for $137,000 toward phase 1, with BLM approval still pending.
Richard Gibbs, aquatic invasive species biologist for the Northern and Northeastern regions, told the councils that Pelican Lake (Uinta County) has been heavily invaded by Eurasian and hybrid watermilfoil and that dense mats are harming boating access, waterfowl and sport‑fish habitat.
Gibbs said the proposed approach is a phased aquatic‑herbicide treatment using ProcellaCOR (ProcellaCor) to treat half the lake in year one and the remainder the following year. "ProcellaCOR is very selective. It will not harm any native vegetation, macroinvertebrates, or other animals," he said, and noted the plan calls for one full‑day application for the first phase followed by monitoring and a second‑phase follow‑up.
He asked the councils for $137,000 toward phase 1. Gibbs said $180,000 is already committed from Dutch John motorboat access funds and described total first‑phase costs in presentation materials (figures in the slides were read aloud; presenters cited an overall multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar budget for the first phase). He told the group BLM approval for ProcellaCOR is pending but coordination is underway and staff hoped to secure the approval before May.
Council members asked about dead plant matter after application and downstream or irrigation restrictions. Gibbs said heavy plant die‑off is manageable and that ProcellaCOR has brief irrigation restrictions (a seven‑day window for irrigation intake during the treated zone) but otherwise allows fishing, swimming and potable use to continue. He also described past successful use of the herbicide at other Utah reservoirs and said treatment of connected canals or upstream sources would also be part of an integrated approach.
Presenters did not seek an immediate vote in the joint morning session; Blue Ribbon and Habitat Council members will incorporate this request into their afternoon ranking and funding deliberations.
