BIG
LAKE (LMD #1)
Big
Lake provides important wildlife habitat, and offers many recreational
opportunities, including: swimming, fishing, boating, and shoreline-related
activities. The lake has a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
boat ramp and is heavily used by both lake residents and the public
for recreation. Beneficial uses of the lake have been severely impacted
from dense, prolific growth of invasive aquatic plants, including Brazilian
elodea (Egeria densa), Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum),
and fragrant water lily (Nymphaea odorata).
To combat noxious
aquatic weeds, the lakeside residents at Big Lake began a program
of mechanical harvesting to remove the plants in the early 1990's;
however, this endeavor was unsuccessful due to the rapid growth rate
of the plants. In 1997, the lake community voted to form a Lake Management
District (LMD) for a 5-year period; upon expiration, the LMD was reformed
for another 10-year period.
The stated goals
of the LMD, in accordance with the Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management
Plan, are to:
-
Aggressively
remove noxious weeds such as Brazilian elodea, Eurasian watermilfoil
(if found), fragrant water lily, and yellow flag iris from the lake.
- Promote
better watershed management.
- Reduce
algae blooms.
- Eliminate
the need to mechanically harvest weeds.
- Swim,
water ski, and boat without touching the weeds.
Big Lake Reports [Pdf]:
2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022
IAVMP Report
For information regarding recreational water safety and algae blooms, please visit our Skagit County Environmental Health Recreational Water Safety web page or check out the WA State Toxic Algae web page.
For more
information about aquatic plant management and LMDs, please
contact:
Madelyn Loy (she/her)
Noxious Weed Coordinator | Skagit County
Office: (360) 416-1467
mloy@co.skagit.wa.us
|
Big Lake Annual Report
2022
|
