Public meeting to be held on the management of flowering rush

POLSON - Flowering rush is an aquatic invasive plant that is well established in various locations in Flathead Lake. Salish Kootenai College and the University of Montana are partnered on a research proposal to investigate the potential of using herbicides to manage flowering rush in the lake.

Most notable is the infestation at the Ducharme Fishing Access on the south shore, as well as dense stands on the north end of the lake. The plant tends to infest boat launches, shorelines, shallow protected bays and backwaters, and boat marinas.

The biological and environmental impacts on the lake, fish and wildlife, and water quality are yet to be determined, but the plant interferes with boating and recreational use of the lake. Lake users rake and pull the plant from boat marinas which facilitates the spread, plant parts become tangled in boat props which also spread the infestation, while others are reportedly applying commonly available aquacides to the lake that are not effective and inappropriate to use on flowering rush.

The proposal is currently under review for compliance to the National Environmental Policy Act with public comment closing April 10. This meeting is to receive public comment on proposed herbicide trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness to manage flowering rush. The meeting is on Thursday April 3, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Tribal Natural Resources Conference Room, kitty corner from the Polson County Court House.