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Douglas County will seek public input on updated vegetation management plan
Summary
County staff placed a 2026 draft vegetation management plan on the April 15 agenda for public input. The plan updates staffing and herbicide‑use metrics; staff noted Eurasian watermilfoil in Lonear Lake and said aquatic herbicide has not been used since 2020 and that mechanical removal can worsen spread.
Douglas County Public Works told commissioners on April 8 it had updated the county’s vegetation management plan and plans to solicit public feedback before final approval.
Chad Voy, public works director, described the plan as a living document first developed in 2022 to clarify when and how herbicides and mowing are used on county property. The 2026 draft adds factual updates on staffing, equipment and annual chemical‑use metrics, and reiterates the department’s goal of reducing herbicide use where feasible.
Voy noted Eurasian watermilfoil remains present in Lonear (Lonear Lake) and that aquatic herbicide has not been applied since 2020. He said mechanical harvesting in his department’s prior trial sometimes worsened spread by creating fragments that can reestablish downstream. The plan states the county will not apply aquatic herbicides without bringing the matter to the board and soliciting public comment.
Commissioners voted to place the draft plan on the April 15 agenda to allow stakeholder review and formal public comment. Staff will send notices to interested groups and return next week with any public comment received.
