LCRA water weed open houses attract concerned residents
At each of its two open houses, LCRA water quality manager Bryan Cook gave a series of 15 minute presentations about water weeds in the Highland Lakes and why herbicides are the best options for controlling the exotic species.
By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula
The two open houses held by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) were teeming with Highland Lakes residents eager to ask questions of LCRA and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials about water weed control.
An open house was held at the Granite Shoals Fire Department Feb. 26, and the second was at Quail Point Lodge in Horseshoe Bay, Wednesday, March 11.
In Horseshoe Bay, at the first session of four, the room was packed and more chairs had to be added.
Water milfoil is seen as a nuisance by property owners along lakes Inks, Marble Falls and LBJ.
Bryan Cook, LCRA water quality manager, gave a 15 minute presentation every hour in which he informed residents about the types of water weeds, the reasons LCRA has chosen not to treat water milfoil in the past (it does not pose the same operational hazards as hydrilla and water hyacinth), and control strategies.
“There’s no magic bullet,” Cook told residents.
Cook outlined the reasons herbicidal treatments are better choices over mechanical (raking the weeds out of the water), biological (introducing carp is not feasible in the Highland Lakes) and lowering the lake level (not possible because of the drought).
After Cook’s presentation, hands instantaneously raised all over the room. Residents wanted to know more about the permit process and details about the zone system LCRA announced Feb. 16.
LCRA representatives were on hand with laptops to help residents determine their zone using their street address.
See Friday's Highlander for more.
