Donations needed for weevil project

SANDPOINT — Organizers oWEf a project to determine the effectiveness of weevils in Eurasian milfoil-control efforts are seeking $25,000 in local contributions by mid-April to help keep the project on track for this summer.

About $90,000 has already been raised in cash and in-kind donations, and Partners for Milfoil Control have applied for another $61,000 in potential grants.

Organizers are hoping that community members can help with the remaining $25,000.

The state of Idaho recently announced that it was drastically cutting the funding for milfoil control, which means it’s unlikely Bonner County will receive all the funds it’s seeking for this summer’s treatment plans.

“With the state cutbacks, it’s all the more necessary for our community to explore alternatives that have the potential for cost-effective and long-term control,” said Jennifer Ekstrom of Partners for Milfoil Control.

Ekstrom added that the community has asked for herbicide alternatives for several years and now is the chance for those alternatives to come into play.

“We have a plan and momentum, and if everyone does their part by making an investment in the project, we can make it happen,” she said.

The Partners are a cooperative effort of the Tri-State Water Quality Council, Selkirk Conservation Alliance, Panhandle Environmental League, Sandpoint Mothers for Safe Water, and Idaho Conservation League.

“This is a great chance to investigate non-herbicide control of milfoil in our lake, and to build the body of research on weevils as a control method,” said Diane Williams, executive director of Tri-State, which serves as fiscal agent for the project.

n For more information or to make a donation, visit www.tristatecouncil.org or call 265-9092.