Column

During the last meeting of the Bonner County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force a discussion of our “polarized community” arose regarding control of milfoil.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear one of the members mention finding common ground. There are many different viewpoints and its imperative that common ground be discussed as the most effective decisions will inevitably come from our understanding and acceptance of this idea.

We have people that are completely comfortable with the use of herbicides and have confidence in the science backing them, those who believe that weevils are potentially a viable long-term solution, people who have concerns that weevils may somehow get out of control, and folks that believe we should do nothing.

I believe the common ground is that we all want to protect our watershed and would rather not apply herbicides to our drinking water.

The question is essentially: how to approach this complex problem and have all sides leave the table satisfied their concerns have been heard and addressed?  

This monumental task was essentially set up to be handled by the Task Force as its makeup has varied viewpoints. Unfortunately the funding agency, the State of Idaho, has taken a hands-on approach as a substantial portion of the funding has come to Bonner County. Injecting its own philosophy has essentially given weighted consideration to those that agree with their approach and has left those who have concerns regarding the direction of the program feeling as though their concerns are not being addressed with the same level of consideration.

For the past two years I have been accused of being an extremist, environmentalist, tree hugger, a person whose only mission is to derail a program that will solve our milfoil problem.

For clarification, I am concerned. I'm concerned about milfoil, concerned about the long-term effects on our lake ecology caused by milfoil and continued large scale applications of herbicides.  

I'm concerned about the economic backlash of these applications with regard to tourism and property values at a time when we have been considered one of the best small towns in the nation and a national “green” movement is gaining momentum.

I'm concerned that the cost to treat has increased more than 50 percent over a two-year period and Bonner County will soon be left on its own with no funding mechanism in place. I'm concerned that no scientist believes eradication in our system is possible; herbicides are a temporary suppression and only 50 percent to 70 percent effective all at a cost of almost 5 million over three years.

There is a control method: the milfoil weevil that has successfully given a number of communities long-term control and yet we haven't invested a single penny is this technology. 

I believe that the significant investment in herbicide treatments would be a sign that the concerns of those who believe it will work have been considered, and now it's time for them to realize that we need to address everyone's concerns and begin to look at alternatives that give all Bonner County citizens the comfort in knowing Lake Pend Oreille is a safe place to recreate.