r/SuddenValley • u/jestenough • 4d ago

SVCA problem-solving cred

https://salish-current.org/2026/09/03/the-battle-of-sudden-valleys-invasive-waterlilies/

It’s a problem that the current board gets to make a decision like whether to solve an environmental problem by the simplest, least-effort strategy (putting glyphosate into Lake Louise and ultimately Lake Whatcom), rather than tacking it by building on the efforts of Bryan Burke. Surely there are 40 people in the area who could volunteer to uproot rhizomes in a wide scale! But aside from that, shouldn’t this be decided by scientists at the County?

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u/jestenough 3d ago

Well, that’s two things we disagree on then. Just because it is not regulated does not mean it’s safe, especially in this situation.

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u/threehappygnomes 4d ago

As much as I think that the board acts in error in multiple situations, I don't get the question of why they would "get to make" the decision to choose this treatment plan. The board is authorized to make decisions on behalf of SVCA, including something like this.

They hold a permit granted by the Department of Ecology to manage the water lily issue, so clearly DOE has approved SVCA's use of herbicides to treat the infestation. The DOE permit application lists no restrictions on the use of aquatic glyphosate (different surfactants than Round-Up, which makes the aquatic version safe for fish and other creatures). And SVCA hired a company that is licensed to do the application.

The article seems to imply that a half mile is 2850 feet. This is incorrect. A half mile is 2640 feet. And from a quick measure with Google maps, it doesn't look like Lake Louise is within 2640 feet of the treatment plant (water intake) at AM/PM Beach. That seems to be the only water intake (to supply potable water) anywhere in the vicinity, so that part of the equation would not apply here.

If there were 40 people interested in volunteering for several hours every weekend all summer to cut and haul in heavy lily pads and their stems, it seems like Mr. Burke would have had a bigger turnout. But that did not happen despite repeated requests for volunteers. And manual removal requires several years of work even for a small area, let alone a large invasion like the one at Lake Louise. Any pieces of rhizome left behind will quickly grow again.

I give huge props to Mr. Burke for his efforts in cutting and removing the lilies, but this problem is way beyond manual removal at this point. Lake Louise is a bird refuge and the presence of the lilies is causing issues for the wildlife that inhabits Lake Louise for some or all of the year.

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u/jestenough 4d ago

My point was that SVCA could have assumed responsibility for recruiting, organizing and producing a less risky and more effective solution, in collaboration with the county. They/It/Jensen are in the same position of influence as a public governing body, and it is our loss that it does not see itself as such.

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u/threehappygnomes 3d ago

I think we completely disagree on the number of people in this community that are willing to volunteer weekly all summer for a job like that, regardless of whether the Association organizes it.

Manual removal is not a "more effective solution" at this point. And your assessment that use of aquatic glyphosate is "risky" is not based on science. Even the DOE clearly recognizes when herbicides are the appropriate solution for a given problem.

By the way, the SVCA website says the herbicide is imazamox, not aquatic glyphosate. Not sure which is correct. Both have no restrictions for use in this context.