Treating lily pads can be tricky. The initial plan from our Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan (IAVMP) was to treat the lily pads in Control Areas A-1 and A-2 (LINK). The lily pads in these areas severely impact owners’ lake access. Once treated we expect an 80% effective/reduction rate – meaning that those lily pads will not return next year.
Due to a WDFW restriction about protecting wood duck rookeries, we had to wait until after July 31st before beginning treatment. While waiting to get past that date the warm weather caused significant browning of the foliage. To be effective, the herbicide (Imazamox) must be applied to the green foliage so it can effectively travel to the root tubers below. It is not effective to apply it to the brown foliage.
Our revised plan is to treat the green lily pads in Control Areas A-1 and A-2 in the next two weeks and then return to these same areas in the cooler fall weather when the brown areas have “greened-up.”
We will keep you updated as more information about the exact treatment schedule as soon as it is known.
