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Residents, experts call for invasive-mussel prevention pilot at American Lake
Summary
Shoreline residents and a contractor proposed a small pilot focused on signage, outreach and volunteer presence at public boat launches to prevent zebra and quagga mussels from entering American Lake; speakers urged the Lake Management District to adopt invasive-species prevention in its next charter.
Brian Ford, a shoreline resident who said his family has owned property on American Lake since the 1930s, proposed a small pilot to prevent invasive mussels focused on public-launch signage, outreach and volunteers. "Keeping invasive mussels out of the lake is vitally important," Ford said, urging the district to include invasive fauna in its next management cycle.
Contractor Kyle Steelhammer of Northwest Aquatic Management encouraged early, targeted prevention and permitting that allows multiple contractors to operate under Department of Ecology coverage. "Timing windows are very important," Steelhammer said, noting a June 1 timing window for restricted herbicides that can allow treatment of immature plants and more effective interventions. Multiple speakers, including Janet Spingath and Barry Halverson, warned that mussels are irreversible once established and recommended focusing on access-point prevention and monitoring.
The proposal drew support from residents and the American Lake Improvement Club as part of broader calls to expand the LMDcharter. The board collected the proposal into the record and listed it among the topics to be covered in follow-up meetings and the Aug. 27 listening session.
