-----Original Message----- From: Tracy Nordstrom
After canoeing this past weekend through the acres of milfoil on Calhoun (the worst I've ever seen it), I have a question for Park Board Commissioners who regularly post and other concerned citizens regarding the health and safety of our lakes: what is going to be done, both in the short term and in the long term, to rid our precious lakes of this noxious weed? I know that the Park Board has tried pests in cages at Cedar, with limited results, and I have a feeling that the big blue harvesters are just providing an aesthetic solution to the problem. As a swimmer in Calhoun, I know that the harvesters leave lots of tendrils of the milfoil loose and then those pieces are free to re-establish themselves elsewhere in the lake. The harvesters don't seem to be doing what people think they are, they are simply shearing off the tops of the plants and encouraging stronger root growth (like cutting back any plant) and leaving lots of free-floating cuttings. What about the idea of chemically "killing" the entire lake and then, when the milfoil is completely eradicated, re-stocking it with fish? Is there research available as to the benefits/risks of the various methods of ridding lakes of milfoil? [Terrell] Seems as the milfoil came earlier this year. It wasn't that long ago that it seemed the harvesters would show up about Aquatennial time. This year they've been in the lake for at least a month, albeit, I haven't seen any evidence they have been doing any harvesting. Anybody know why the canal between Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles isn't clogged with milfoil? Even Lake of the Isles which is generally a much shallow lake. I'd be concerned about chemically killing the lake, which would probably be 4 lakes as Lakes or the Isles, Cedar and Brownie are connected. Can we realistically think that people (and likely a few animals) wouldn't be adversely affected? While I have heard of lakes being chemically killed, I've never heard of it being done in the center of an urban area. It's my understanding it is a multi-year process. Do we even want to try to keep people out of these lakes for several years, not to mention not eating the fish that would get caught before the chemical killed them. Yes, I'd like to get rid of the milfoil, but chemical treatment is just waving so many red flags that I can't feel comfortable with it. Terrell Brown Loring Park (where they drained the pond a few years back and put a liner on the bottom) terrell at terrellbrown dot org __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
