Beaver Lake milfoil closure lifted

The temporary watercraft closure at Beaver Lake north of Whitefish was lifted Aug. 1. A quarantine was put in place after Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive plant species, was discovered in the lake last year and appeared to be growing early this summer.

The temporary quarantine signed July 18 had closed the public boat ramp and prohibited motorized and nonmotorized watercraft throughout the lake.

Dave Burch, weed program manager at the Montana Department of Agriculture, said dredge diving and bottom-barrier control methods were complete, and the risk of watercraft spreading the aquatic weed was no longer a threat.

Burch thanked the many agencies, cabin owners, organizations and the public for their help and support in implementing the aquatic noxious week control plan.

“We need to work together when dealing with this type of situation,” he said. “This closure was a great example of how these programs should work.”

For more information, call 444-3140 or e-mail dburch@mt.gov.