By Doug Bearce

LITTLETON, NC - The Lake Gaston Weed Control Council (LGWCC) met in special session last Wednesday night to approve a plan for treating Hydrilla infestation during the remainder of the year. Dr. Elton Brown, LGWCC president, informed those in attendance that in accordance with the group's bylaws and because this was a special meeting, no business other than that on the approved agenda would be discussed.

The floor was given to John Slaton, LGWCC Secretary, who recapped some of the issues discussed at the last regular monthly meeting held on April 27th. He stated that the weed control treatment cost estimate for 2005, provided by Aquatic Nuisance Plant Control (ANPC), is based on the same guidelines as those used during the previous three years. Slaton added that the amount of actual funds that will be available will not be known until July (the start of the fiscal year), so the final budget for treatment may have to be adjusted. He said that in estimating the cost of treating typical areas on Lake Gaston some data remains unknown. For example, an accurate count of public launches in each county is necessary. There is at least one in each county, but some counties have more than one.

Another issue left over from the last LGWCC meeting was the idea of offering treatment cost rebates to associations which pay for private weed control treatment independent of that conducted by the LGWCC. Slaton said there is no firm estimate on the amount of funds that will be provided by Virginia Beach or the five counties surrounding Lake Gaston, a portion of which might be used for rebates. He said the counties need to confirm what they will be contributing. Slaton also pointed out that there are no caveats attached to how the LGWCC spends money from the counties, other than to report back on what was accomplished. He also explained that it gets complicated because funds are provided on a fiscal year basis (Jul 1 - 31 Jun), while the treatment itself occurs during the Spring and Summer which crosses over fiscal years.

One director sought clarification as to whether or not treatment for businesses and private marinas was included in the list for this year. Slaton responded that the subject was discussed at the last meeting, but that they were not eliminated because they have always been included in the list. He said the list can be changed by the LGWCC Board if a motion is made and passed. Slaton added that overall, some $23,000 to $25,000 was spent last year to treat some 880 acres. He cautioned, however, that while it is expected that future funding will at least remain constant, the amount of acreage that can be treated will drop because the cost of treatment chemicals has risen. To treat the same amount of private acreage this year will now cost closer to $32,000.

Director Jim Howell made a motion that associations be made aware of the offer through a "media blitz" and be given a rebate of up to 20 percent of their actual costs incurred. He added that only funds from Virginia Beach would be used to fund the rebates.

During discussion of the motion, Director Clint Clary, an attorney, cautioned that is "important to have a plan and stick to it. We can't be making drastic changes and (Howell's motion) is wrought with problems. Logistics questions (how the rebate will be administered and funds will be accounted for) need to be answered. We should continue to treat as we have in the past. And we should retain funds (rather than expend them on rebates) to force the hands of private organizations (to contribute to the LGWCC the funds they now pay for independent treatment). There are also legal questions. We have received funds based on specific treatment proposals with the assumption that we would use those funds in good faith. It (a rebate program) is difficult to do at this point. There are just too many hoops to jump through. We need to explore this in the future."

Brown reminded the group that the "Dole Bill" (federal funding appropriated to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineeers) calls for a total of $850,000 each year over the next three years, beginning in Fiscal Year 2006. That includes half a million dollars for treatment and $350,000 dedicated to a Corps noxious weed research project which also calls for some weed treatment for collection of scientific data. Slaton said it is projected that a total of $1.13 million will be available. He compared this to the $2 million per year that the Lake Gaston Stakeholders Group Science Committee estimates will be required to achieve the goals of the yet-to-be-approved Five-Year Plan. "We are not at the point where we can even implement the Five-Year Plan," he said. "It's not impossible to get additional funding (through, for example, matching grants), but right now we will continue to be short of what is needed."

Slaton went on to say that if the LGWCC uses Virginia Beach's $200,000 contribution to pay for private treatment rebates, "this leverages our funds. If they (associations) come on board, we (the LGWCC) could leverage that up to $800,000 (through matching funds). (A rebate program) gives homeowners the opportunity for equal treatment. For equal benefits from (LGWCC) funds." It is estimated that up to 400 acres of Lake Gaston are treated privately, but how much is spent remains an unknown.

Said Brown. "We want to get the most bang for the buck. But there are a lot of unknowns. The rebate proposal has merit, but it's an 'unopened box.' If we use taxpayers' funds, how do we explain (how rebate program funds are spent) when one subdivision wants treatment reimbursement (and it has been determined that the area was not treatable in the first place), but is not compensated, and another subdivision close by is given a rebate? We have enough complaints about our grading system (used to determine areas for treatment)."

In the end, Howell's motion died for lack of a second. Clary then made a motion to adopt for 2005 the ANPC treatment plan presented at the LGWCC's April 27th meeting, but to remove treatment for businesses and private marinas from the list. He added that the $32,000 budgeted for treatment around these areas be taken out of the budget and carried over into a reserve. This motion passed unanimously. In a post-meeting telephone interview, Skip Wiergasma, General Manager of ANPC, said businesses and private marinas include such locations as Eaton's Ferry Marina, Washburn's Marina, Stonehouse Timber Lodge, and camp grounds. Wiergasma said a complete list of areas to be treated is being compiled and will soon be distributed .

In one other matter of interest, Brown said "options" with regard to Dominion were discussed (apparently during the closed executive session) at the last LGWCC meeting. Since then, a letter has been received from Dominion and its content will be an agenda topic at the next Stakeholder meeting scheduled for June 2nd. The gist of the issue is understood to be that in order to be a member of the Stakeholders Group, a member must support it financially. Dominion does not intend to do that.

The next meeting of the LGWCC will be held on Wednesday, July 20th. The time and location for the meeting will be announced.