Are chemicals right approach for lake?

As a busy single mother of three young children, I am writing on behalf of myself and the many people I know who just can't find the time to write a similar letter. This summer will be my third as a resident of Sandpoint. My first summer here was before any herbicidal treatments for Eurasian water milfoil were implemented. Many of the same places that I revisited around the lake last summer were less than when I found them that first summer. In a once pristine spot off of Talache Loop Road there was a light brown algae covering all the surfaces of the submerged rock. I also saw as much, if not more of the Eurasian water milfoil plant in the water as before the treatments took place.

The only scientific study done as to the effectiveness of these herbicidal treatments has been carried out by an affiliate of the herbicide suppliers, and even this was inconclusive. I urge you to pass funding to help us get a local survey by citizens; boaters, fishers and all those people who have been using the lake for many years saying what, if any improvement they have seen as a result of the past two years of using the chemicals. We should have a right to know if this is an effective and safe use of our tax dollars.

KRISA B. HESS-MILLS

Sandpoint