Board Meeting – November 1, 2007
Agenda: Cyanobacteria Toxin Testing Equipment, Grass Carp Application
Visitors: Raylene Erickson-PADL Recording Secretary, Ursula Sperry
Minutes: Indicates that DLWID and Salmon Creek Watershed jointly filed a grant request for toxin testing equipment. Conversation on native plant restoration morphed into an extensive discussion of SolarBees on Blue Lake and other sites.
Links: Complete Agenda Complete Minutes
For excerpts from the Minutes select
Cyanobacteria Toxin Testing Equipment
Robertson helped to write a grant as part of the Watershed Council of Salmon Creek for a good amount of funds to fund testing equipment and supplies and staff to do the monitoring for cyanobacteria toxins. The staff would be housed at the Salmon Creek Watershed facilities. The grant application included a match of funds just under $2,000. DLWID budgeted $5,000 and Robertson is certain a program can be accomplished for this amount. The grant application deadline is October 22, with funding expected before next season. At first, the idea was to house the lab at DLWID, but Salmon Creek Watershed has better facilities. Green asked if a small travel trailer might serve as a portable laboratory, since a utility sink with water is required and there is none at the DLWID office. Robertson said that was a good idea and he would look into it.
Native Re-vegetation
Strayer reported that Gary Galovich, a Western Region warm water biologist, had planned to electro fish the lake and count the fish; however, his scheduled date was in the middle of a storm, and he said he would finish it later. He is counting all the fish where warm water fish would habitat. Strayer requested a copy of Galovich’s report. Galovich plans to electro fish in the spring and determine which fish wintered over. Galovich and Buckman will review the salmon situation and determine whether native vegetation should be replaced in the lake. Mary Beth Gibbons, an expert on animals’ diets, said that Dr. Sytsma’s list of ten plants presented to her would be fine. She said a student could be enlisted to research plants and the best methods of reproducing them. Strayer asked about enclosures and was told that the mesh should be no larger than 1.5 to 2 inches. Gibbons did not know of any aquatic vegetation nurseries; therefore, it appears that the first stage in establishing plants would be to establish our own nurseries.
Blue Lake is a 65acre lake east of Portland classified as a light wastewater lake—it has no inflow or outflow, but rises with the Columbia River. Strayer discussed the lake with Joe Horton, who said the primary challenge with the lake is that pollutants remain in the lake in the sediment. He is concerned with the phosphorous from surrounding well water. A homeowners association controls the lake. The homeowners negotiated a contract for three Solar Bees in this 65 acre lake and if they don’t work, they are not required to pay for them. They were installed in May and the water remained clear until July when a wakeboard tournament and boats stirred up the lake and the phosphorous.
Horton said ten days after this tournament, an algae bloom made the lake unusable. Horton said before the tournament the water was clear but weeds were growing. At the end of the year the Solar Bees didn’t pass the test. Joe Eilers, from Solar Bees, agreed to extend the conditional agreement an extra year to prove they would work. Horton revealed that he has agreed to be a spokesperson for Solar Bees if they are successful. Steilacoomb Lake placed Solar Bees in their 320acre lake and water quality was good but weeds were growing. Herbicide was used and the Solar Bees were shut off for 14 days after having been told to do so for no more than five days. There was a subsequent massive algae bloom. The Solar Bees people said they’d give them another year; however, the Solar Bees were removed due to a misunderstanding. Green asked if Horton mentioned the lakes in California, including Hidden Valley Lake. There are eight to ten lakes that claim success stories. Strayer said that there are no larger lakes in which Solar Bees have been used. DLWID would be focusing on cyanobacteria deletion since there are no weeds.
Discussion ensued about the amount of water displaced by Solar Bees10,000 Gallons per minute that comprises 3,000 interior and 7,000 induced. Green said there is a greater chance of being successful where you don’t have a lot of weeds. Green asked if there is any native vegetation that is not beneficial. Strayer replied that he has not been able to identify any. Discussion continued about Solar Bees and various pros and cons. Strayer asked about approvals that would be required prior to obtaining Solar Bees. Robertson replied that ODFW and the Marine Board would need to approval; however, the vendor would probably help walk through the process. Strayer submitted that if anyone had any questions or comments on his notes to email him and he would elaborate further. Green thanked Strayer for his work on this project.
