The Nikiski Community Center will host a community forum (Thursday) April 24, to discuss the current issues, impacts, and treatments of the invasive species Elodea in Nikiski lakes.
Integrated Pest Management Technician Janice Chumley with the Cooperative Extension Service listed a few of the specialists that would be there.
Chumley: “We have Dr. Trish Swartz, who is with the Forest Service in Fairbanks, Dr. Lars Anderson who is an aquatic invasive plant expert, he is retired from the University of California Davis, Dr. John Morton with our own Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.”
Chumley said that the only effective treatment that will eradicate elodea from waterways is a herbicide.
Chumley: “This is an herbicide that is very specific to what the problem is, and that’s why it’s important to learn about it because it doesn’t have any affect on the non-target species, it’s going to be monitored.”
She said two representatives from the company that manufactures the herbicide will also attend.
Chumley encourages Nikiski residents and landowners to attend the Nikiski community meeting that will be held at the Nikiski Community Center from 6 pm to 8:30 pm April 24 and any other public interested may get information at the Kenai Invasive Weed Conference on Friday, April 25, where there will be a special seminar about Elodea from 2 – 4:30 pm.
