Gould: Milfoil program needs ongoing $$

Idaho’s state Department of Agriculture wants the state to put $900,000 a year in ongoing funding into its aquatic weed program, which has been funded with $10.5 million in one-time funding since 2007. “We believe we have made a difference,” said state Ag Director Celia Gould. “We can continue our success in eradicating aquatic invasive weeds in Idaho.” This year, the program treated 250 acres, including 210 with herbicides and 40 with divers, Gould told JFAC. It operated seven watercraft inspection stations, four in Bonner County and three in eastern Idaho. “The number of infested acres has decreased dramatically since the milfoil program began,” Gould said. “In the last two years, we have only found three new locations with infestations of milfoil.”

However, she said, “Milfoil is not a treat-and-walk program.” The effort must continue if the Idaho’s waterways are to be kept free of the fast-growing, lake-clogging mats of milfoil. Gov. Butch Otter’s budget proposal for next year recommends the milfoil funding as an ongoing expense.

However, Gould said in view of the state’s latest budget shortfalls, if she has to make more cuts, she’d shift the program over to dedicated funds for next year - and not seek any state general funds for it. “This is a high-priority program for us - there’s no doubt about that,” Gould said. “But we realize that balancing the state budget is critical.”