A dangerous lake management plan

The management of invasive species presents difficult challenges. We acknowledge that the leadership of the Sand Dam Reservoir Association has spent long hours developing a lake management plan. Through the establishment of Save The Lakes, they have developed a mechanism to extend their plan state-wide. At public meetings, STL has articulated that the organization will give them large-scale buying power and the ability to purchase chemicals at discounted rates. The STL chairman has stated “we plan on doing this to a total of 49 lakes and ponds in the state.”

When concerns about invasive milfoil in Smith and Sayles first developed, the initial management study was performed by Aquatic Control Technologies. Given that this company provides the chemicals for treatment, the conflict of interest is clear. Though the Sand Dam Reservoir Association held public meetings, the voices of those opposing toxic treatment were stifled by very strong pro-chemical positions in the leadership. At least two former presidents of the SDRA organization have vocally opposed chemical treatment. One was left to feel so powerless and marginalized that she resigned from the organization. The other deferred her vote (1 family, 1 vote) to a family member who was in support of chemical treatment.

The use of poisons like 2, 4 D to treat milfoil is shortsighted.

The Massachusetts Environmental Trust sponsors a Clear as a Lake website that describes non-toxic approaches to lake management at
https://www.oursecureserver.org/toxicsaction/Clear_As_A_Lake.pdf

From the website:

The dumping of herbicides into our water bodies can cause nutrient and pH imbalances, kill off
beneficial organisms, contaminate drinking water supplies, and harm people. For example, the
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department recently released two studies detailing a history of failure for chemical treatments in two Vermont lakes. The state’s studies claim that not only did herbicides fail to control milfoil over a number of years, but they also posed a substantial threat to fish populations and native vegetation.

2,4-D (Stands for 2,4 –Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid)
2,4-D is a systemic herbicide, which means that the chemical is absorbed by roots or foliage and
distributed throughout the plant. It inhibits cell division in new tissue and stimulates growth in older tissue resulting in cell disruption. 2,4-D can be applied as a liquid or in granular form, usually during the early growth stages of the plant.

2,4-D made up about 50% of Agent Orange, a defoliant used in the Vietnam war that has been
linked with widespread poisoning, birth defects and health problems. It is the oldest organic
(containing carbon) aquatic herbicide approved for use in the United States. 2,4-D has been detected in groundwater in at least 5 states. Treatment costs are estimated around $300-$800 per acre, depending on degree of infestation and company used. Repeat treatments will be necessary at least once per season.

2,4-D is fast acting and allows for some selectivity depending on application timing and
concentration. It is most commonly used to control Water Chestnuts, Eurasian Milfoil and Curly-
Leaf Pondweed.24 2,4-D has been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity,
neurotoxicity, and kidney/liver damage. It does not affect seeds, which means that applications must be repeated every season. It restricts the use of water for irrigation or recreation after application.

2,4-D cannot be used in water for drinking and has the ability to leach into nearby groundwater
supplies.

Clearly, this is approach to lake management is bad for Rhode Island lakes and Rhode Island residents.