Current Licensed Aquatic Weed Herbicide Applicators:
(This list is not intended as an endorsement of any business or individual)

 

Herbicide

Pestmaster Services
Attn: Dennis Yows
P. O. Box 912
Upper Lake, CA 95485
Toll free: (800) 214-2110
Phone No.: (707) 275-3333
Fax No.: (707) 275-0171
e-mail: dennisyows@sbcglobal.net
web: http://www.pestmaster.com

Herbicide/Mechanical

Clean Lakes, Inc.
Attn: Tyler Fowler, Jay Kasheta
P.O. Box 3186
Martinez, CA 94553
Toll free: (877) FIX-LAKE
Phone No.: (925) 957-1905
Fax No.: (925) 957-1906
e-mail: jkasheta@cleanlake.com
web: http://www.cleanlake.com

Herbicide

Lakeland Restoration Services, LLC
Attn: Charles Glazer, Dave Kluttz
78 E. River Spur Rd.
Priest River, ID 83856
Phone No.: (208) 448-2222
Fax No.: (208) 448-2222
e-mail: lakeland@wildblue.net
web: http://lakelandrs.com





The Lake County Department of Public Works administers the ‘public lands’ of Clear Lake. It is necessary to seek official approval to spray or harvest weeds in Clear Lake because the waters of the lake constitute a public trust, and are not the private property of the lake shore land owner. Courts have established that lakeward of the low water line, Clear Lake is public property, and above that line, the water is considered a public easement to the land it covers. Considered waters of the United States, the lake was entrusted to the state of California. In 1973 administration of the lake was transferred by an act of the Legislature from the State Lands Commission to the County of Lake. The Water Resources Department of the Department of Public Works is responsible for the management of Clear Lake including the issuance of aquatic plant management permits.

The County Agricultural Commissioner enforces laws concerning pesticide usage. This authority includes registration of various license and certificate holders, worker protection, reporting of pesticide usage and inspection of activities related to pesticide use to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has been engaged since 1994 in an effort to eradicate Hydrilla, a noxious and invasive aquatic weed. The eradication order is found in state law, and CDFA has broad authority over infested areas. While many public uses have been prohibited in Hydrilla infested water bodies in California, CDFA has been very cooperative with Lake County, allowing recreation to continue along side the eradication campaign.

The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) is responsible for protecting fish and wildlife habitat on public lands and public easements in the state. Since aquatic plants are important fish spawning and rearing habitat, CDFG was involved in the conditions placed on the aquatic plant management permit.

The State Water Resources Control Board enforces the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) in California. In 2001 federal courts declared that herbicide use in public waters requires compliance with the CWA. To meet that requirement, the County applied for a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit, which allows the continued use of certain state and federally registered herbicides in Clear Lake. The Water Resources Department of the Department of Public Works bears the burden of administration and compliance with that permit.  Since 2004, as a result of a series of lawsuits culminating in the federal EPA overturning the decision to define an aquatic pesticide as a pollutant, California has opted to continue monitoring pesticide use in aquatic environments.  The NPDES permit continues to be the vehicle to document aquatic pesticide use,