The Lowell community is seeing long-awaited improvements in the state of the Flat River, according to a member of the local group leading the charge to clean it up.
Portions of the Flat River were chemically treated on May 12 to eradicate Eurasian Milfoil, an invasive species that has noticeably affected the river for the past three years.
Craig Fonger, president of Lowell Friends of the Flat, said the first treatment of chemicals was successful.
“From all accounts, there is no presence of Eurasian water milfoil,” Fonger said in an email.
Solitude Lake Management administered the treatment, and local resident Rich Perry, a manager with Solitude, will monitor the river and oversee any future treatments. Fonger said there is currently not a second treatment scheduled but will most likely be needed in late June or July. He said treatments will not interfere with any local events involving the Flat River.
According to Solitude representative Mitch Hiler, the products that were used were chelated copper, diquat dibromide, flumioxazin, and copper sulfate pentahydrate.
Lowell Friends of the Flat is a group of local community members who raised money to pay for the treatment of the river. It cost approximately $14,000 for this year’s treatments. The group is currently collecting funds to continue keeping the Flat River free of any invasive weeds. Current treatments focus on the downtown area of the river.
The river looks amazing! I am so proud of Craig and all the people who have made this happen. It was and is definitely a labor of love.
Fantastic. We walked past the river last night and it looked beautiful. Invasive species always come back though. I’m glad the group is taking care of this responsibly and following regulations.