04/19/06 Millions aimed at Eurasian water milfoil

Payette, Hayden, Spirit and Pond Oreille lakes have it. So does the Payette River and its found along the Boise River. The State Department of Agriculture is taking applications for a portion of four million dollars in money to help eradicate Eurasian water milfoil. The legislature put up the one time money. State representative Darrell Bolz says this was an important bill for all Idahoans. BOLZ "By using that new noxious weed law and including aquatic weeds into a noxious weed is going to give us a little better opportunity in terms of some control measures that we can use on this Eurasian water milfoil." The deadline for groups to apply for Eurasian water milfoil funding is May 15th. The noxious aquatic weed quickly roots in lakes and rivers, impairing wildlife and fish habitat and is a danger to swimmers. The weed has the potential to form large blooms which eventually turn into an ugly brown mat that sits on the water's surface. Divers have worked the past three summers to rid Payette Lake in McCall of the weed. So far 100 thousand pounds, that's 50 tons of the weed have been pulled from the lake. Need info? Call the ISDA office in Boise at 332-8500 or visit their website www.idahoag.us. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott