LAKE SUTHERLAND — After taking public input from Lake Sutherland property owners today, Clallam County lawmakers will decide whether to extend a $50-per-parcel management district for the eradication of Eurasian milfoil in the scenic lake 14 miles west of Port Angeles.
Under the same terms approved by Lake Sutherland voters five years ago, the management district would draw the funds annually from 2010 to 2014 to pay for the county-led removal of the noxious underwater weed.
Public hearing
The public hearing begins at 10:30 a.m. in the commissioners’ chambers (Room 160) in the main level of the Clallam County courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
After the hearing, the three commissioners will consider two proposals.
They could either extend Lake Sutherland Management District No. 2 for another five years or, in the event of opposition, schedule a vote on the formation of a Lake Sutherland Management District No. 3.
District No. 3 would simply replace District 2.
Each would consist of the citizenry whose land has lake access.
Either district would take the $50-per-parcel fee with an annual rate not to exceed $19,400.
A maximum of $97,000 would be collected from 2010 to 2014.
An advisory committee of property owners would direct the management district.
The funds would pay for the cleanup of the noxious weed that was introduced in Lake Sutherland in the late 1990s and spread fast.
Cathy Lucero, noxious weed control coordinator for Clallam County, said the plant may have been transported to Lake Sutherland by boat or boat trailer from another lake.
Swimmers can drown in milfoil, Lucero said, and boats can get stuck or burn their engines fighting the weed, which grows from the surface of a lake to a depth of about 40 feet.
Lake Sutherland has a maximum depth of about 80 feet, Lucero said.
Clean-ups
County-led volunteer cleanups have cut the species’ concentration in Lake Sutherland, but Eurasian milfoil persists in patches around the shoreline.
“We’re trying to avoid using herbicides,” Lucero said.
The fast-spreading milfoil invades the territory of local plants and animals and can kill by blocking sunlight and altering the underwater chemistry.
“It can smother native plants,” Lucero said.
The state Department of Ecology considers Eurasian milfoil “the most problematic plant in Washington” because it is widespread and difficult to control, according to its Web site.
“Noxious weeds have some fairly severe implications for people that use lakes,” Lucero said.
Community milfoil and algae cleanups are held in Lake Sutherland twice or three times a year.
The next cleanups are scheduled for Aug. 8 and Sept. 12.
“Three hundred different people have helped us over the years,” Lucero said.
Community bonding
Besides the eradication of the weed, cleanup days have helped the community bond, Lucero said.
She said about 100 property owners have signed a letter supporting the continuation of the current management district.
Before the public hearing, commissioners Mike Doherty, Steve Tharinger and Mike Chapman will consider public works items, including a maintenance and use agreement with the Storm King Soccer Club for use of the Agnew Soccer Fields.
The soccer club would agree to maintain and operate the 7.5-acre fields at Old Olympic Highway and Barr Road for five years.
Matching grant
Clallam County used a $205,500 matching grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office to purchase the only soccer fields between Port Angeles and Sequim for $411,000 in May.
The closing date on the sale is July 31.
Agnew Helpful Neighbors Club leased the land to the soccer club for about 15 years but decided to sell the property to establish a fund to finance a scholarship program.
Meanwhile, the board of commissioners on Monday authorized Public Works Director Craig Jacobs to prepare an application for a courthouse historic preservation grant from the state Department of Archaeology.
The $375,000 matching grant would be used to repair the courthouse clock and bell tower and for exterior cleaning, sealing, sheet metal repair and step replacement.
A $240,000 project to replace the old boiler in the courthouse can be used toward the match, Jacobs said.
If approved, the county would pay $135,000 for the repairs in the 2010 budget.
Since the county has done a good job maintaining the courthouse over the past 30 years, expensive overhauls have been avoided, Jacobs said.
“This will be one more step in keeping that tradition going,” he said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
