Weed Treatment Slated for Lowman Ponds

Northern watermilfoil has returned to Lowman Ponds and, if left unchecked, will quickly reduce fishing opportunity to zero. Fish and Game staff plan to treat both ponds on Tuesday, May 12th with a granular herbicide that will kill the nuisance aquatic weed and make the ponds fishable once again. Signs announcing the treatment will be placed at the ponds in the days leading up to the activity, and the actual application will be done according to manufacturer guidelines by Fish and Game staff licensed as aquatic herbicide applicators. In the 24 hours following treatment, the public and their pets should not swim in or drink from the ponds. Past milfoil treatments at Lowman Ponds have resulted in no fish mortality. The presence of the weed in Lowman Ponds is "a situation we face about every two years," fisheries manager Joe Kozfkay noted. "Our last treatment here was in 2013, and fishing conditions remained great for two seasons. But the weed has returned and it's time for another treatment." To learn more about the weed treatment effort, contact Kozfkay at the Fish and Game Nampa office, 465-8465.