Eloika Lake Invasive Aquatic Vegetation Control Project
All irrigation restrictions have been lifted as of 7-27-2011
Background
Eloika Lake is a 662 acre lake, three (3) miles long and a 1/2 mile wide. It's main tributary is the West Branch of the Little Spokane River. It is the last lake in a long and varied watershed which includes Diamond, Sacheen, Horseshoe and numerous other smaller lakes. Eloika has many springs which also supply year round water. Eloika is a relatively shallow lake, averaging 7.5 feet deep, which supports great fisheries and wildlife habitat.
Due to the shallow depths, there are large areas of aquatic vegetation across the lake bottom. Aquatic plant surveys done over multiple years by the Washington State Dept. of Ecology and reported by the Spokane County Conservation District (SCCD) in the 2008 Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan (IAVMP), list the invasive species being targeted in Eloika as Eurasian Watermilfoil, Curlyleaf Pondweed, both aquatic; and Yellow Flag Iris, Purple Loosestrife, and Reed Canarygrass, all riparian (shoreline) plants.
The invasive aquatic plants can overcome the native vegetation, degrading the fisheries and waterfowl habitat, deteriorate water quality and disrupt recreational enjoyment of the lake. The IAVMP provides options for control, even though some controls have been done already in previous years. Mechanical (hand-pulling, digging, raking) control of these plants has been slow to decrease the populations of these plants, partly due to fragmentation, but chemical treatments show promise as a tool to reduce the density to a mechanically manageable level.
There is a need for continuous management of these invasive species through education of the public, yearly mapping surveys and monitoring, plus integrated controls of the aquatic vegetation.
In July of 2010, the SCCD contracted with Lakeland Restoration Services, LLC to carry out an IAVMP implementation project.
The goals of this five (5) year project are to:
- Develop a monitoring plan to determine the effectiveness of control measures.
- Reduce aquatic invasive plants with herbicide to improve overall lake water quality and habitat.
- Get stakeholder involvement by performing public outreach and education.