LAKE PEND OREILLE — The Idaho State Department of Agriculture set its sights on ridding Lake Pend Oreille of an invasive weed earlier this week.
Using herbicides and divers, the ISDA is targeting the Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive weed that can quickly spread. Sydney Kennedy, public relations officer for the ISDA, said in an email that the weed can create thick plant beds that kill native plants, reducing fish habitat, and make swimming and boating difficult.
Only selected locations in Lake Pend Oreille were targeted, with the largest areas of herbicide use taking place in Bottle Bay, Ellisport Bay and off the north end of the Long Bridge by Dog Beach. Smaller applications were done around those areas and in Garfield Bay.
The herbicide used by the ISDA, ProcellaCOR, comes with no re