PEL protesters march against herbicides

SANDPOINT — More than 200 people paraded through the streets of downtown Sandpoint on Saturday to protest the use of herbicides to treat Eurasian milfoil.

Carrying signs ranging from "Please, no poison in our lakes" to "We shall overcome eradication mentality," protesters marched both to support an integrated approach to management of milfoil and to let officials know that herbicides aren't welcome, said Steve Holt of the Panhandle Environmental League, which organized the protest along with the Eureka Center.

A new round of Eurasian milfoil treatments involving the herbicide Renovate were set to begin on Monday.

Renovate, which contains the active ingredient triclopyr, has a five-day water use restriction in treatment areas.

Clean Lakes, the company contracted by Bonner County to apply the herbicide, is scheduled to treat a 430-acre infestation at Oden and Perch bays on Monday. Clean Lakes' boats is scheduled to revisit the infestation today. Also identified for treatment today is a 20-acre clot on the east side of Sheepherder Point on the Hope Peninsula, and smaller infestations at Denton Point and the mouth of Denton Slough.

Clean Lake's fleet is set to move on infestations in the Clark Fork Delta on Wednesday and Thursday. Areas targeted for treatment on both days include the pond on the north side of Highway 200 west of Clark Fork, the pond at the crook of 200 and Driftwood Yard Road, and three spots encompassing 20 acres located in the southern portions of the delta.

Protesters were "celebrating steps gained toward a safer and healthier environment for everyone who lives, works or plays" on Lake Pend Oreille, Holt said.

"Those participating in the march for responsible milfoil management made statements with their feet and their hearts," he added. "Their hope is that they will be heard by our representatives in the Idaho Legislature."

PEL supports integrated management of Eurasian milfoil, including biological controls, revegetation, bottom barriers and hand pulling. The group is against the use of chemical herbicides, Holt said.

"Continued herbicide treatments to our drinking water and recreational treasure is unacceptable without a risk assessment that determines these chemicals will have no long-term negative effects on our ecology," he added.

PEL members have called for officials to remove the phrase "eradication" from legislative language tied to state funds, saying it is used to unfairly reject bio-control and re-vegetation efforts.