Tony Grove Lake reopened after trying to kill off invasive plant

GARDEN CITY, Utah — Tony Grove Lake has reopened after being closed in an attempt to try and kill off an invasive plant. 

Logan District Ranger for the Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest, Marshall Alford says they added an herbicide to the lake. The district hoped that it kill off the plant, Eurasian Watermilfoil.

How is Tony Grove Lake hurt? 

“Eurasian Watermilfoil decreases habitat for other native species. Often out competing diverse native plant communities which provide desired habitats for fish,” said Alford 

Alford also said that the invasive plant will can spread across large areas. These masses not only harm fish habitats but also get in the way of recreation. 

“It can grow into large maps of vegetation that make paddling and fishing difficult.” 

Preventing the spread

Ranger Alford said one of the biggest challenges with milfoil is that it, “can [be] spread by fragments of the plant [so it’s] pretty easy for our visitors to inadvertently transport” it to other bodies of water. 

So, in order to prevent the spread of milfoil and other invasive aquatic plant species visitors have to be very thorough with cleaning any recreation equipment used. 

“Drain all water by removing drain plugs and keeping them out during transport; disposing of unwanted bait in the trash; and dry docks, lifts, swim ramps, and other equipment, [leaving them] out of the water at least 21 days before placing equipment into another body of water,” said Alford. 

By taking these precautions we can hope to avoid closures like the one for Tony Grove Lake. 

Alford said they’re expecting to see results from the treatment in about a week.

Related:

• Salt Lake County Health warns of harmful myrtle spurge plant
• “Planting parties” at Utah Lake working to rid the lake of invasive phragmites

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