PUBLIC INVOLVEMENTBrazilian Elodea

Lake Leland Integrated Aquatic Plant Management Plan

 

The Leland Community has a long standing history of public involvement with the formation of the Leland Neighborhood Improvement Club in 1907. The purpose, as noted at the time "…shall be social, civic, and more particularly, the improvement of the Leland Community." In recent years "improvement" has grown to encompass the protection and the enhancement of the quality of life in the Leland area. Concern for water quality has been a discussion point at meetings. The spread of "the weed" (unknown by name at the time) in the south end of the lake was of great interest. After identification of Brazilian elodea in 1994 by Department of Ecology, Kathy Hamel and Jenifer Parsons, representing Ecology, were invited to a Leland meeting to discuss the presence of Brazilian elodea in the lake. Club President Chris Hertel proceeded to approach Jefferson County Commissioners and Jefferson County Parks and Recreation for help in the matter. Eventually, with the assistance of the Jefferson County Conservation District, grant funding was awarded for a Lake Leland Brazilian elodea study through the Department of Ecology’s Aquatic Weeds Management Fund. The dedication of several community members brought this about. There has never been a question of community involvement as the community has had an active interest in the quality of life at Leland for decades.

In July of 1997, a community outreach was initiated to include all Leland area property owners, both residents and non-residents, in the IAPMP planning process. A letter was sent to these individuals with information regarding the presence of Brazilian elodea in the lake and explaining the aquatic plant management plan process. The community was asked for their input and support and was informed of a public meeting regarding the issue (Appendix D). Nearly 100 letters were sent out and an article was published in the local newspaper. Several property owners were unable to attend but did request to be kept informed on the matter. The meeting was attended by eleven community members.

From this point a steering committee, comprised of representation from the local community and concerned county and state agencies, was formed. Tribal interests (Peter Bahls, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe) were asked for input and kept informed of the process and decisions made. The Jefferson County Conservation District took a lead role in the proceedings. The Lake Leland IAPMP steering committee consists of the following members:

  • Doug Barley (Leland property owner)
  • George Bauer (Leland resident and property owner)
  • Linda Bauer (Leland resident and property owner)
  • Don Case (Leland resident and property owner)
  • Lowell Davis (Leland resident and property owner)
  • Bruce Munn (Leland resident and property owner)
  • Jim Munn (Leland resident and property owner)
  • Hector Munn (Leland property owner)
  • Joanne Peterson (Leland resident and property owner)
  • David Christensen (Jefferson County Environmental Health)
  • Glenn Gately (Jefferson County Conservation District)
  • Al Latham (Jefferson County Conservation District)
  • Lauren Mark (Jefferson County Development Review Division)
  • Warren Steurer (Jefferson County Parks and Recreation)
  • Susan Taylor (Leland resident, property owner, and Jefferson Conservation District)
  • Dan Collins (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
  • Kathy Hamel (Washington Department of Ecology)

Community members were encouraged to participate, and meetings were open to all interested parties. The community at large was kept informed by committee members, newsletters, and local newspaper articles (Appendix D). During the planning process, the committee met formally five times. Meetings were held on November 14, 1997, January 9, February 6, March 20, and November 18, 1998.

Two public workshops were held: the first in August of 1997 and the second in late September of 1998. At the first workshop, interested residents were trained in aquatic plant identification and familiarized with plant monitoring methods. The planning process was discussed, and community volunteers came forward to form the beginning of the steering committee. Following this workshop, photographs of the training were displayed at the Jefferson County Conservation District’s booth at the Quilcene Fair. At the booth, information on the Leland Project and on the prevention of the spread of noxious aquatic weeds was made available to the public. The second workshop was held to demonstrate the use of some of the hand control methods that had been discussed in meetings. This event took place at a private dock in the south end of the lake where the Brazilian elodea is most prevalent. Both workshops were well attended. The dedication and commitment of Leland community members who value the quality of their surroundings was very evident.

Aquatic Plant Control Alternatives  |  Return to the Table of Contents

Questions about this page?
Contact Kathy Hamel by e-mail at kham461@ecy.wa.gov