LPOW wins grant from Patagonia

SANDPOINT — Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper is receiving a $9,000 grant from outdoor clothing and gear manufacturer Patagonia for its pursuit of ecologically sound alternatives to herbicides.

Waterkeeper said Patagonia typically awards grants in the $3,000-$8,000 range, although the group’s project garnered additional financial support.

“We were very excited to receive this grant. Patagonia’s support for our project demonstrates their commitment to the environment and the importance of clean water,” said Shannon Williamson, executive director of Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper.

The group intends to use the funds to continue raising community awareness about aquatic invasive weeds in the Pend Oreille system and the importance of utilizing ecologically sound alternatives to herbicides to curb infestations. Those methods currently include diver dredging and benthic barriers, although

LPOW hopes to implement the use of biological controls such as weevils.

The grant funding will also be used to sustain the city of Sandpoint’s efforts to control Eurasian milfoil using mainly diver dredging in the City Beach area.

“It just goes to show how persistence pays off. We’ve come a long way in a relatively short amount of time and the city’s alternative program for aquatic invasive weed control is off to a very strong start. We’re thrilled to have the ability to help ensure the success of this program with the support of organizations such as Patagonia,” said Williamson.