War declared on Utah Lake weeds

PROVO — All along Utah Lake, they perch in clusters. Over the past several years, they have taken over the open beaches. But Utah County has a plan to get rid of them — all of them.

Aaron Eagar, Utah County weed supervisor, is fighting these phragmites, deemed a "noxious weed" by the county about two years ago.

Phragmites are a type of reed that can grow up to 14 feet tall in a very short period. Eagar said nothing else can survive in its clusters, and they have no benefit to wildlife.

"If we don't start a program, the phragmites will take over," he said.

The Utah County Weed Board has a 10-year plan to get rid of all of the phragmites through burning and chemical use. The two chemicals they will be using were both approved as safe by the Utah Department of Agriculture.

Eagar said many other states have this same problem, and the board looked to them when deciding what to do.

The phragmites also are a breeding area for mosquitoes, making the weeds' removal an issue of public health, he said.

Right now, Eagar said the board is conducting a pilot program aimed at getting rid of 160 acres of phragmites on the northeast side of the lake. When that is finished sometime next year, officials will work on different sections of the lake for two years each, with a two-year follow-up on each area as well.

The pilot program has received $30,000 from the state, and about 2,000 Utah County man hours have been spent. Eager said he's certain the efforts will cause a positive shift in the look of the lake.

Between 10 and 20 years ago, people were able to walk around Utah Lake from the Provo airport to the Lindon boat harbor, he said, but due to the phragmites, that's no longer possible.

When the project is complete, the new land could become a state park, beach or campground, but that has yet to be determined.

e-mail: slenz@desnews.com