Published: June 26, 2008 09:48 am         

Forum: Boaters should share milfoil costs

I've recently received a notice regarding a special water milfoil assessment for Silver Lake lakefront owners.

Silver Lake is public property. It is regulated and controlled by layers of government agencies. It has had an unmonitored public access site since the mid-1950s.

The lake now has zebra mussel and water milfoil sites. These exotic species were probably introduced into the lake by transient trailered watercraft. I suspect the majority of lakefront owners' watercraft are only used on Silver Lake.

The initial location of the water milfoil was near the public access site located in Garfield Township. Last year the milfoil had spread to other areas. Garfield Township has spent more than $4,000 to treat the water. Estimates for this year's cost range from $12,000 to $25,000. I believe the boating public should share the burden of this exponentially rising treatment expense, not just lakefront owners.

An analogy would be to have only the people who own perimeter lots around a city park pay for the maintenance and upkeep of the park.

I have yet to be notified how the assessment is to be levied. Will it be an equal payment for each lakefront owner or will some other formula be used?

What steps are being considered to preclude any further infestations by outside sources? Should the lake be quarantined from transient watercraft? What precautions are taken by the sheriff/Department of Natural Resources lake patrols to ensure their watercraft are not spreading these infestations from lake to lake?

Silver Lake had an outlet device installed in the 1980s to allow excess water to flow into the Boardman River in times of high water levels. Low water quality is a reason, given by the court for not allowing the excess water to flow out of the lake. Will the milfoil and mussels thwart this release of water?

I believe the Silver Lake lakefront owners, the Silver Lake Association and both Blair and Garfield Townships should petition the county commissioners, state legislators and local congressmen to procure funds for the treatment of Silver Lake. These exotic species came from an area that is governed and regulated by the state and/or federal governments. How many lakes in the area have or will have these species in the future?

The expenses to contain this problem could become overwhelming for a small population such as the Silver Lake lakefront owners.

I believe it's time for the legislature to raise the registration fees for watercraft. These extra fees would be used to help preserve our lakes.

About the author: Bill Van Petten served as president and vice president of the Silver Lake Association from 1974 to 1978.

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