The Department of Natural Resources has proposed adding Beck Lake in Nikiski to the list of Kenai Peninsula lakes elodea eradication projects and is seeking public input.
We asked Janice Chumley with the Kenai Cooperative Extension if that meant Elodea is spreading.
Chumley: “This is still completely possible to eradicate it, we have a lot of lakes on the Kenai Peninsula and so to only have it in three gives us a really good opportunity to show that it can be done and stop it from spreading.”
She said the residents near the lake brought the problem to the attention of DNR.
Chumley: “And that was brought to our attention by residents people who live on Beck Lake and said wow I think we have that same plant on our lake and please come and look at it and due to citizen’s diligence that lake was surveyed and found to be highly infested.”
Chumley added that last week’s elodea meeting in Nikiski was attended by about 30 residents who were able to share concerns and receive information about the next steps in the elodea eradication.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough is currently slated to receive $400,000 for Elodea eradication in the state capital budget. The Governor still has the authority to veto line items before he signs onto the bill.
Public comments on Beck Lake being added to the list of elodea eradication projects must be recieved by the DNR by May 29.
For more information about how to submit a comment click here for original release.
