Organization: Mountlake Terrace City of WQAIP-2020-Mouter-00006 Project Title Lake Ballinger Invasive Aquatic Species Control Pr
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WATER QUALITY AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT FUNDING Organization: Mountlake Terrace city of WQAIP-2020-MouTer-00006 General Information Project Title Lake Ballinger Invasive Aquatic Species Control Project Dense growth of Eurasian Short Description watermilfoil and fragrant water lily, along with a smaller infestation of curly leaf pondweed have impacted both recreational use and overall water quality in Lake Ballinger. The proposed management strategy to control these invasive aquatic weeds uses a combination public education; cutting, raking, and burlap bottom barriers; and herbicide application to 25% of the lake littoral zone over a period of 4 to 8 years. Project Lake Ballinger is located Long Description in southwestern Snohomish County, Washington. Three-fifths of the lake is located in the City of Mountlake Terrace, and two-fifths of the lake is located in the City of Edmonds. The watershed extends into King County, and includes land within five incorporated cities (Edmonds, Lynwood, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline, and Lake Forest Park) as well as unincorporated land belonging to Snohomish County. Lake Ballinger is a popular site for recreation and is frequently used by 11/14/2018 Page 1 of 8 WATER QUALITY AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT FUNDING Organization: Mountlake Terrace city of WQAIP-2020-MouTer-00006 General Information the public and residents with private land abutting the lake. There is a public fishing dock and swimming beach on the Mountlake Terrace side of the lake. Beneficial uses of Lake Ballinger include swimming; fishing; non-motorized boating; aesthetic value; fish migration; resident fish spawning and rearing; commercial irrigation water supply; and aquatic habitat. The lake is eutrophic, and in recent years, dense growth of aquatic invasive plants in Lake Ballinger has severely impeded recreational beneficial uses and negatively impacted the aquatic habitat in the lake. Chemical methods have not been used to control aquatic vegetation in Lake Ballinger, though in the 1990s an alum treatment was administered in an attempt to control algae blooms. Lake residents have employed some manual control methods for aquatic weeds, including cutting and raking. Concerns about the dense growth of aquatic weeds caused lake residents to bring the problem before the Lake Ballinger/McAleer Creek Watershed Forum. In the fall of 2017, the City of 11/14/2018 Page 2 of 8 WATER QUALITY AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT FUNDING Organization: Mountlake Terrace city of WQAIP-2020-MouTer-00006 General Information Mountlake Terrace and the City of Edmonds applied for and were awarded a grant from the Washington Department of Ecology to survey the lake’s aquatic vegetation and to write a plan to control invasive species. In late June 2018, Tetra Tech conducted a survey of aquatic plants in Lake Ballinger. In addition to two native species (Yellow pond lily [Nuphar lutea] and large leaf pondweed [Potamogeton amplifolius]), the survey identified three non-native, noxious weed species: Fragrant water lily (Nymphaea odorata), Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), and curly leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus). Snohomish County has designated Eurasian watermilfoil a class B Noxious Weed. This designation requires control. Fragrant water lily and curly leaf pondweed are class C noxious weeds in Washington State. A secondary survey in Hall Lake, upstream of Lake Ballinger, identified the non-native, noxious plant variable-leaf milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum). Variable-leaf milfoil is a class A noxious weed in Washington State. This designation mandates 11/14/2018 Page 3 of 8 WATER QUALITY AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT FUNDING Organization: Mountlake Terrace city of WQAIP-2020-MouTer-00006 General Information eradication of the species. In Lake Ballinger, management of aquatic invasive plant species will prioritize public shorelines and nearshore areas (out to approximately 11 to 12 feet deep). This includes the shoreline and lake littoral area along the north and northeast portions of the lake. Secondary priority target areas include the shorelines and nearshore areas along the western and southwest portions of the lake which are mostly privately owned residential land. The shoreline and littoral area surrounding the island and along the golf course and southeast portion of the lake are of lower priority. Hall Lake is not included in the management area for this Plan, but as it is upstream of Lake Ballinger, monitoring for non-native species that could spread downstream to Lake Ballinger will be conducted. Additional survey and monitoring for non-natives will also be conducted along the length of Hall Creek and in the in-creek stormwater ponds downstream of Hall Lake. The recommended plan is to apply approved herbicides to the target areas in Lake Ballinger 11/14/2018 Page 4 of 8 WATER QUALITY AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT FUNDING Organization: Mountlake Terrace city of WQAIP-2020-MouTer-00006 General Information over the course of 4 to 8 years, depending on the availability of funding. Following the first 4 to 8 years of management, maintenance herbicide spot treatments may be necessary, but the need for extensive herbicide coverage should be significantly reduced. One quarter of the shallow lake (littoral) area will be treated each year. High priority target areas will be treated first, followed by secondary and lower priority areas. Small areas may be re-treated if necessary to achieve carry-over control, but the acreage treated each year will not exceed 25% of the littoral area. This phased approach was designed to mitigate the release of nutrients into the water column as treated plants decay and thereby reduce the potential for herbicide treatments to trigger an algal bloom in this historically eutrophic lake. Chemical control of aquatic invasive plants will be supplemented by volunteer efforts to cut and rake invasive species and to install bottom barriers (burlap sandbags). This "hands-on" volunteer approach will be used as much as possible, but due to the large area of the invasive plant infestation, herbicide application is 11/14/2018 Page 5 of 8 WATER QUALITY AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT FUNDING Organization: Mountlake Terrace city of WQAIP-2020-MouTer-00006 General Information also necessary to control the spread of aquatic weeds. The proposed alternative will target invasive species in areas where beneficial uses are currently impeded by excessive plant growth. It is anticipated that the strategy will improve water quality, increase recreation use, and also increase other beneficial uses of the lake. In addition, controlling the population of invasive aquatic plants will improve conditions for native aquatic plants, improving the quality and diversity of available aquatic habitat. Total Cost $42,000.00* Total Eligible Cost $42,000.00* Effective Date 3/1/2019 Expiration Date 3/1/2021 Ecology Program Water Quality* Project Category* Early Infestation Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan a Aquatic Invasive Plant Project Research Project Will Environmental Monitoring Data be collected? Yes Overall Goal The overall project goal is to control and reduce the distribution and density of invasive aquatic plants in Lake Ballinger. Specific aquatic plant management goals 11/14/2018 Page 6 of 8 WATER QUALITY AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT FUNDING Organization: Mountlake Terrace city of WQAIP-2020-MouTer-00006 General Information include: • Improve recreation usability and water quality of the lake • Keep swimming areas and boat launch areas clear of plants for optimal usability and safety • Improve habitat for fish and other aquatic species • Maintain beneficial uses including recreation, wildlife use, water quality, water rights, and downstream salmon protection • Educate residents and lake users about the spread and prevention of invasive plant species establishment in the lake • Eradicate small infestations of non-native invasive plant species if possible • Prevent spread of the non-native invasive plant species (variable-leaf milfoil [Myriophyllum heterophyllum]) from Hall Lake downstream to Lake Ballinger. 11/14/2018 Page 7 of 8 WATER QUALITY AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT FUNDING Organization: Mountlake Terrace city of WQAIP-2020-MouTer-00006 Project Characterization Project Themes Select a primary and secondary theme that best describes the work to be achieved during this project. Primary Theme: Aquatic Invasive Plant Secondary Theme(s): Infestation Control Education & Outreach Monitoring and/or Maintenance Project Website If your project has a website, please enter the web address below. After entering a website and saving, another blank row will appear. Up to three websites may be provided. Website Title/Name Web Address Lake Ballinger Forum Projects https://www.cityofmlt.com/495/Projects 11/14/2018 Page 8 of 8 WATER QUALITY AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT FUNDING Organization: Mountlake Terrace city of WQAIP-2020-MouTer-00006 Recipient Contacts Project Manager Laura Reed Contact Information Laura Reed Stormwater Program Manager 6100 219th St SW, Ste 200 Mountlake Terrace, Washington 98043 (425) 744-6226 [email protected] Authorized Signatory Eric LaFrance Contact Information Eric LaFrance Public Works Director 6100 219th St SW, Ste 200 Mountlake Terrace, Washington 98043 (425) 744-6276 [email protected] Billing Contact Laura Reed Contact Information Laura Reed Stormwater Program Manager 6100 219th St SW, Ste 200 11/14/2018 Page 1 of 8 WATER QUALITY AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT FUNDING Organization: Mountlake Terrace city of WQAIP-2020-MouTer-00006 Recipient Contacts