Field reports: Weed control to close Newman Lake access
BOATING – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife public-access site at Newman Lake will be closed June 2-4 to allow treatment of the lake with herbicide to control Eurasian milfoil and other aquatic invasive weeds.
The gate will reopen on the morning of June 5.
The Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District, under permit from the Washington Department of Ecology, has hired Aqua Technex to treat milfoil infestations on about 25 acres throughout the 1,200-acre Spokane County lake.
A swimming restriction will be in force during treatment and for 24 hours after treatment.
Signs will be posted discouraging swimming and boating the day of treatment and for two days afterward.
Boating will be discouraged because wave action from wakes reduces the herbicide’s effectiveness, officials said.
Washington men fined for elk poaching
HUNTING – Five Western Washington men have been stripped of hunting privileges in Montana for five years and ordered to pay $41,000 in fines and restitution for illegally shooting elk.
The case stemmed from a yearlong, two-state poaching investigation by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks into six bull elk shot on private land in a closed hunting district on the Rocky Mountain Front. Five of the elk were trophy size.
Washington Fish and Wildlife Department police assisted in the investigation.
The Great Falls Tribune reported the elk shootings occurred in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
Montana game officials say the men schemed to shoot trophy elk and get them out of the state secretly.
Elk numbers up in Bitterroot Valley
BIG GAME – Elk numbers are up again in the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks official have spotted 8,054 elk in the valley and surrounding mountains in aerial flights this year compared with 7,391 last year during the same flights.
Despite wolves and cougars in the area, elk numbers in some parts of the valley are higher than guidelines.
Park fees increase at Mount Rainier
PARKS – Mount Rainier National Park’s seven-day single vehicle entrance rate increased from $15 to $20 on Friday. The vehicle rate will increase again, to $25, on May 27, 2016.
Camping fees also have increased.
The per-person walk-up or single bicycle fee will increase from $5 to $10.
Other national parks also are increasing fees this year.
Entrance fees are not charged for holders of a variety of passes, including the country-wide America the Beautiful pass and disabled, military and senior passes.
Missouri River geology discussed
LANDSCAPE – A free program entitled Magnificent Journey: A Geologic River Trip with Lewis and Clark through the Missouri River Breaks of Montana will be presented by geologist Otto Schumacher at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Jack & Dan’s Tavern, 1226 N. Hamilton St.