Conservation group plans lake clean up
Published 1:06 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008
By Dennis Box
The Courier-Herald
The Lake Bonney Conservation Association (LBCA) is moving steadily forward in its battle to protect and preserve the city's namesake lake.
The group's most recent action included a meeting Friday with members of the Stream Team, Isabele Ragland and Jayme Gordon.
LBCA Secretary/Treasurer Dana McCauley said members of the Department of Ecology surveyed Lake Bonney two weeks ago and helped the group and the Stream Team set priorities to maintain the health of the lake.
€ First on the list of problem plants in and around the lake is Japanese knottweed. It is an ornamental plant initially planted by homeowners and can only be eradicated by professionals.
€ Second is the white water lily. It is a non-native plant first introduced by homeowners. It also must be removed only by professionals.
€ Third is the yellow flag iris, a highly poisonous plant with no known method of eradication.
The Stream Team will contact Washington State University to get assistance in eradication of the iris.
LBCA is planning another event next month.
"We will be manually removing vegetation from the lake," McCauley said. "The city is trying to get us equipment to drag the lake. We're hoping to find people that have boats with electric motors. We'll throw nets out from the boats and manually remove algae and excess vegetation."
The group plans to meet from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 11 to drag the lake. After working on the lake there will be a barbecue at Lake Bonney Park. Information about the LBCA and preserving the lake will be available. Councilman Jim Rackley has volunteered money to fund the barbecue.
McCauley stated her group is working with the city and the Department of Fish and Wildlife on an agreement concerning the public boat launch and Lake Bonney Park, which adjoins the boat launch.
"The boat launch is owned by the Department of Fish and Wildlife," McCauley said. "They suggested the city could enter into an interlocal agreement and join the boat launch to the park. The city is screaming for parks and we have this little gem here. It's really exciting."
McCauley said she was told at one time there was a beach between the boat launch and the park. The area is overgrown with brush now.
The Stream Team will have a booth at the Bonney Lake Days celebration Aug. 21. Members of the LBCA will be in the booth from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The following are tips from the LBCA to help improve the ecology of Lake Bonney:
€ Do not feed geese or ducks.
€ Use lawn and garden fertilizers sparingly. Choose low-phosphorus fertilizers and avoid chemical fertilizers.
€ Water the lawn after fertilizing, but do not allow the excess water to run off.
€ Cover or mulch bare soil areas.
€ Conserve water
€ Learn to identify and eradicate non-native, invasive aquatic plants.
€ Clean up pet wastes, place in a tied plastic bag and dispose in the trash.
€ Never empty an aquarium into the lake.
