Milfoil notoriously clogs waterways and blocks boating and swimming opportunities. It grows rapidly and spreads by fragmentation. That means any boat, swimmer, fish, or wind that breaks off a piece contributes to its advancement. Lake users noticed milfoil two years ago. In 2018 it began encroaching into boating lanes. It was predicted to fill the lake completely in three years, strongly harming the recreational potential of the lake.
We want to save Vancouver Lake for its recreational purposes and economic potential. Through dogged determination and the support of many allies, FoVL and the rowing club ultimately gained approval to use newly-approved ProcellaCOR to treat the Lake’s Eurasian Milfoil. FoVL also began extensive fundraising efforts gaining support from hundreds of Clark County citizens and significant donations from the Firstenburg Foundation and the Ed and Dollie Lynch Foundation as well as contributions from Clark County and the Port of Vancouver USA.
Local groups are monitoring the invasive milfoil and have applied for a grant to study milfoil in the lake and to find a long term solution (WDFW, Country Parks, Ecology). A weed board permit has been applied for and community support is being rallied. Local groups can input labor and contribute some funding, but in the long run cannot carry the cost.
