Guba
Contributor
I have absolutely no idea how to proceed.
Here's the idea and rationale: Lake Elmer Thomas (if you don't know) is a small lake on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, Oklahoma. It usually has pretty good visibility and an abundance of fish. Near the dam is good diving with an submerged old dam that goes down to about a hundred feet. However, in the past few years, the lake has become nearly choked with aquatic weeds...some of which I think is hydrilla. The vegetation is definitely encroaching more and more across the lake and toward the dam area where many people dive.
I would like to approach the authorities with a plan to curtail the vegetation in a fashion similar to the one at Spring Lake (Aquarena Center). While it would be monumental to address the whole lake, it might be feasible to concentrate on areas closer to the dam. Volunteer divers could harvest large areas and make an impact on at least a part of the problem and have some fun doing it.
Has anyone else participated in programs such as this, and is it worth inquiring further with the Federal authorities at the Wildlife Refuge? (I'm relatively certain that the EPA or some similar agency might be involved.) I'm looking for suggestions about how to broach the subject and pitch the notion to stem a non-indigenous invasion into a potentially sensitive area.
Just an idea...any input or experience would be appreciated.
Here's the idea and rationale: Lake Elmer Thomas (if you don't know) is a small lake on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, Oklahoma. It usually has pretty good visibility and an abundance of fish. Near the dam is good diving with an submerged old dam that goes down to about a hundred feet. However, in the past few years, the lake has become nearly choked with aquatic weeds...some of which I think is hydrilla. The vegetation is definitely encroaching more and more across the lake and toward the dam area where many people dive.
I would like to approach the authorities with a plan to curtail the vegetation in a fashion similar to the one at Spring Lake (Aquarena Center). While it would be monumental to address the whole lake, it might be feasible to concentrate on areas closer to the dam. Volunteer divers could harvest large areas and make an impact on at least a part of the problem and have some fun doing it.
Has anyone else participated in programs such as this, and is it worth inquiring further with the Federal authorities at the Wildlife Refuge? (I'm relatively certain that the EPA or some similar agency might be involved.) I'm looking for suggestions about how to broach the subject and pitch the notion to stem a non-indigenous invasion into a potentially sensitive area.
Just an idea...any input or experience would be appreciated.
