Lily Pads on Tempo Lake
Because the lilies grow in clumps beyond the 25 feet of lakeshore, which lakeshore owners are responsible for, the HOA is responsible for addressing the problem or the lily pads will not be eradicated. As a result, at the 2022 LTGA annual meeting, our members voted to take action to control the growth of the Fragrant Lily on Tempo Lake. Currently, we are spraying herbicides on the surfaced lilies administered by Northwest Aquatic Management, LLC ( https://www.nwaqua.com/ ) with a permit issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology (https://ecology.wa.gov/regulations-permits/guidance-technical-assistance/aquatic-weed-control-technical-assistance ). This first step has been recommended to get the lily pad growth under control. We have been advised by our lake management company that this process will take 3 years to be effective. After their growth is under control, we are told other methods of controlling lily pad growth, such as harvesting (mowing) two or three times a year could be effective. We continue seeking ways to make our lake beautiful and safe for us and our animal friends!
In summer of 2023, ‘mud matts’ (dead/dying tubers which float to the surface) formed. This year there was an unusual early, natural, die-off of the lily pads (before the lilies were treated), potentially caused by the Water Lily Aphid (https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/small-black-bugs-water-lilies-18032110.php ). The mud matts appeared after the lilies were sprayed once. The good news is that the matts are sinking on their own. Submerged, decomposing plants take away oxygen from the water. Normally, this is fine but not if too much oxygen is depleted. (https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/understanding_the_role_of_oxygen_in_our_lakes_and_ponds) This is another reason why we need to control the lily pads: every year there are more and more dying pads. The treatment method is designed to prevent over-spraying and causing mud matts. We hope mud matts do not form next year.
Decision to treat lily pads and charge an assessment:
A vote was taken by the members in attendance at the annual HOA meeting on May 13, 2023, for a special assessment to pay to clear the lily pads, which is a noxious weed, from the lake and for the amount that will be assessed per member. As previously mentioned in the letter sent out in April the assessments will be $200.00 dollars per lake front lot and $50.00 per non-lake front lot for the years 2023, 2024, 2025. Both were approved by the majority of HOA members at the annual meeting. The assessments will cease after 2025. Unpaid assessments are treated the same as unpaid dues. The assessment money will be held in a separate account and dedicated to the management of the noxious lake weeds (lily pads). We look forward to getting these weeds under control and increasing the enjoyment of our lake starting this summer.
WA State Application to Treat the Lily pads
This form shows the exact location and specific features of Tempo Lake. It states the purpose of the request is to treat the Tempo Lake lily pads with herbicide in order to control their growth, as mowing at this advanced level of spread would not be effective in limiting their growth. The permit was approved.
Public Inquiry: WA State Department of Ecology Answers public’s questions:
Once the permit to treat the lake weeds (lily pads) with herbicides is applied for, the intention to treat them is advertised, giving the public a chance to ask questions. Each question is researched and answered by the Department of Ecology. This information is public and the WA State DOE’s report is posted here:
NWS Study: Lake Water’s influence on TLGA’s Water System
Concerns about herbicides seeping into TLGA water system which delivers potable water to homes caused TLGA to hire its water system, Northwest Water Systems, to send out an engineer to study the situation. TLGA currently use two wells, which were the subject of the study. The study showed that the aquafers are not affected by the lake water. The results are found here:
WA DOE Issuance of Coverage Under the Aquatic Plant and Algae Management General Permit, July 2023 And Permit.
AWA State Department of Ecology issued the permit to apply herbicides to the TLGA lily pads.
Notice of Herbicide Application to Lakeshore Lots Sent July 21, 2023
Northwest Aquatic Management sent this notice to residents and businesses that are within the treatment zone or within ¼ mile of a
treatment zone.
Contracts to Treat Lake Weeds
TLGA has hired Northwest Aquatic Management to apply herbicide to the lily pads on Tempo Lake. The contract and estimate is expected to be the same for each year, 2023, 24, and 25. “Exhibit A” refers to the estimate and invoice.
Same Day Notice of Treatment on Shoreline Properties
This notice was posted on every property on the lakeshore the day of applying herbicides on the lily pads.
Previous notes:
August 1, 2023
Signs were posted on each dock as the lily pads were treated in the early morning using a total of .6 gallons of Imazapyr (slow acting) and .25 gallons of Aquaneat (fast acting) to cover the lily pads on whole lake in a patchwork fashion so as to avoid a “mud mat” (floating lily pad root clump). Following this, no more treatments will be done until late June, and the second in July 2024.
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July 8, 2023: ,
On June 28th I started elevating the process with the Dept. of Ecology to speed up the approval process to treat the lily pads. Both Shawn in the Dept. of Ecology, and Kyle, who will treat the lily pads, seemed… optimistic that treatment of the weeds could begin in the next two weeks.
Yesterday, July 7, the Dept. of Ecology elevated the public inquiries process to Shawn’s boss. She assigned two additional folks to answer the inquiries and is hopeful they can be complete by tomorrow.
Paul Gullekson, TLGA HOA President
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June 28th, I spoke with both Shawn, Permit issuer, and Kyle Aquatics Management, via phone calls. While I couldn’t get Shawn to commit to a finish date for responding to all the inquiries to all the public comments, he did say he would do his best to have them complete by Friday June 30th. Once done, due to the unusually large number of inquiries, they will then have to be elevated through Shawn’s chain of command for review and sign off and then the permit will be issued.
Both Shawn and Kyle seemed… optimistic that treatment of the weeds could begin in the next two weeks.
Paul Gullekson, President, Tempo Lake Glade Association
*****************************************************************************************June 16, 2023
Good Afternoon,
We know that the majority of the community voted to treat the lily pads to make the lake recreation-friendly, as described in the purpose of our covenants. We are eager for this to happen, However, the treatment of the noxious weeds in our community’s lake has been delayed.
Last week, Shawn, who issues the permits, with Department of Ecology, told me that in all his years of doing this, he has never seen anything close to the number of public inquiries as are associated with treating our community’s lake. More were added yesterday.
Apparently, after the monthly board meeting last night, a board member told community members that we are going to treat the lake with or without a permit. Some of the members called Shawn this morning telling him the misinformation they were told: that we will be treating the lake starting Monday, with or without a permit. This is simply untrue and only further delays treatment of the noxious weeds. It was never mentioned in last nights meeting that we would ever treat without a permit. Of course, we would not. That would be illegal and the business working for us would lose their license.
Fortunately, Shawn and Kyle, the point of contact for the business that will be removing the lily pads, have a long working relationship and Shawn knows Kyle would never treat without a permit.
Kyle, Shawn and I have been working very close together to make this happen in as timely a manor as possible. Earlier, Shawn’s hope was to get the unprecedented number of public inquiries responded to by today and would update us by the end of the day and issue the permit or inform us he needs more time to respond to the inquiries before he issues the permit.
Being the optimists that both Kyle and I are, we scheduled treatment for the week of the 19th knowing we can reschedule if needed.
Sincerely,
Paul Gullekson