What brought us to the point of forming
a new organization?
Founding members of Friends of Paradise
Lake were longtime members of the PLA or involved in the Invasive Weed Committee doing research
sanctioned by the PLA. It became apparent during recent activities that the PLA president has not only a
strong bias toward weevils, but that is the only solution acceptable to her and; is alluded to in every PLA news letter relating to this topic and most recently, in the letter of intent to form a SAD sent to all riparian owners. Often relying on the weevil company as an advisor, her efforts have focused on suppressing and challenging any data that might lead to any other conclusion.
Early this year, the PLA along with many others heard firsthand from a reliable expert that ‘based on our
description of the current state of the lake, if not treated aggressively, much of the lake may become a swamp’, and at that time, our options would be limited to a whole lake treatment with Fluridone, (while safe to fish, people and wildlife) kills not only EWM but all native weeds as well. Understanding the problem and taking action NOW may avoid this worst-case situation. Unfortunately, the PLA is unwilling to do anything NOW, even the hiring of a consultant that might help us understand without bias, the best way to attack this problem and accelerate a solution.
