Save Union Bay Association
FALL-WINTER NEWSLETTER 2021
Invasive Aquatic Plant Management 2021: In 2020, we used Procellacor to treat milfoil, instead of Fluridone. Procellacor was recently approved by Washington State Department of Ecology although it has been used across the USA for many years. It uses a different mechanism to kill invasive aquatic plants and is described as “practically non-toxic’ by EPA. It is promoted as providing significantly longer control of nuisance weeds with reduced risk to health of humans and wildlife. Aquatechnex performed a weed survey in June 2021 and found minimal invasive aquatic plant growth and recommended that we do NOT treat for milfoil this year. Spring survey results are shown at the end of this newsletter. By July, the pondweeds, which reproduce from seeds, were moderately tall and SUBA treated these plants in July with Diquat. Milfoil remained under control all summer. Most waterlilies have died and so treatment was not necessary.
Finances and Treasurer’s Report: Paul Garner has done an excellent job as treasurer, and I want to thank him for his efforts to improve our monitoring and use of our checking and savings accounts. Because we earn nearly no interest in our savings account and because Chase will be changing their policies about business accounts, Garner suggested that we consolidate these two accounts. We will do this in 2022. Garner reported that, as of 11/5/21, SUBA has a total of $37,252.32 in our bank accounts. In 2021, we paid Aquatechnex $9388 for permits, surveys and milfoil treatment. We paid $350 to Martin Smith to update and create a new web page for SUBA. https://saveunionbay.org
Spring 2021 Fund-Raising Campaign: Our fund-raising drive, chaired by John Impert, raised nearly $25,000. We received donations from 42 contributors which represents 75% of Union Bay waterfront owners. 3 donors are not waterfront owners but are other neighbors and lake users and we are thankful for their support. We appreciate our donors because they enable us to keep the lake clean and safe for everyone’s use and enjoyment. I want to recognize John Impert’s work on our Board and his tireless and enthusiastic work in chairing our fund-raising campaign. He has chaired this committee for five years and so we are giving him a break next year! (See below.)
Fund-Raising in 2022: Because we have enough money in the bank to cover our estimated expenses for 2022, the Board decided that we will not ask for donations in 2022. We are happy to accept donations, but we will not hold a fund-raising drive. People who give automatic donations will be notified and informed in case they want to cancel their donations for 2022. The following year, we will again request an annual donation of $500 per household to cover expenses. Volunteers and Board members receive no stipends or salaries. Our only expenses are for weed management, web services, and program costs.
Shared Expenses with U: In 2016, the U and SUBA signed a five-year agreement (ends 2021) to share expenses equally because their respective acreage was nearly equal. In 2017, the U, as part of a mitigation agreement, was required to cover milfoil management expenses up to $30,000 annually for 5 years. The acreage treated has changed each year based on priority zone needs. Areas treated near the U total about 25 while acres treated near the northeast shoreline is about 15 acres. The mitigation requirement will end in June 2022 and, after that, we will need to write a grant from WA State Department of Ecology to supplement funding the treatment plan. Additionally, in 2012, we received our first implementation grant from DOE. It provided a 10-year framework and plan. This plan also expires in 2022 and the outcome of the plan will be assessed and reported to DOE. We will need to rewrite a new plan next year. Clearly, 2022 will be a busy year renegotiating contracts and determining funding sources.
Nutria: Between 2008-2012, nutria were removed from Union Bay by a consortium including SUBA, U, Portage Bay Neighbors, Seattle Parks Department and the USDA. Nutria have repopulated this area and are now frequently sighted during the day as well as at night. SUBA was recently contacted by Portage Bay Neighbors with a request to partner with them again to manage the invasive rodents. USDA has stated that they are willing to be involved again but they are waiting for the U to initiate a meeting between all interested groups. We will continue to pursue this issue in 2022.
Passenger Only Ferries (POF): A feasibility study of passenger-only-ferries on Union Bay was finalized and released in early 2022. SUBA included comments in this study and is continuing to follow this issue. In general, our position is that we want an environmental impact study performed before POF traverse Union Bay regularly. Our concern is that there are three companies planning to provide POF service from Lake Washington to Lake Union with a stop at the UW Waterfront Activities Center dock. 2 POF from each group (6 minimum) traversing Union Bay every hour and docking at UW has the potential to impact recreational use of Union Bay and disturb wildlife patterns. At this point, we are not aware of any forward momentum from these groups but hope to be included as a stakeholder if they decide to pursue these plans. In 2021, at least one small POF was spotted on Union Bay, docking at UW, and providing sightseeing tours.
Aquatic Weed Management Plan for 2022: Our plan for 2022 is the same as we have followed for the past two years. Aquatechnex will perform a weed survey in May or June and determine the density, location, and presence of aquatic plants in Union Bay. Based on this information, they will treat the priority zones in June and July, if needed. It is hoped that the Procellacor treatment in 2020 will keep the milfoil under control for at least another year so we can skip the June treatment again.
Aquatechnex has not treated for invasive white water-lilies for four years because an infestation killed most water-lilies. They will not treat those areas again unless there is a re-emergence of thick mats of invasive white water-lilies.
If you have questions or comments, let us know via the website, email, or a phone call. Our email address is: saveunionbayassn@gmail.com
SUBA had another successful year of caring for Union Bay. Thank you all for your support! We will need new Board members in 2022. Please consider volunteering to join our Board and help keep Union Bay a jewel in the Emerald City.
Save Union Bay Association Board of Directors
Susan Holliday, President
John Impert, Vice President
Paul Garner, Treasurer
Colleen McAleer, Secretary
John Jacobs, Member-at-Large
Stowe Talbot, Member-at-Large
Stephen Sulzbacher, Emeritus
RESULTS OF AQUATIC PLANT SURVEY PERFORMED JUNE 7, 2021
The text below is from an email from Terry McNabb of Aquatechnex to SUBA Board on June 18, 2021:
Attached are two hydro-acoustic maps that show normal treatment zones and the percent of the water column that has vegetation present. The first map shows the crew practice lane and the second one shows the northeast Laurelhurst shoreline area.
The color ramp shows the percent of the water column that has aquatic vegetation present. The green areas show about the bottom 25% of the water column having vegetation present, yellows about 50% and red is topped out vegetation.
So at this point the plant growth is well below the surface in most areas. The bulk of the plants present are not Eurasian Milfoil at the time of the survey.
Terry McNabb, CLM
Aquatic Biologist/Certified Lake Manager