Thick weed growth along the river is an ongoing concern in Blind River.
So much so that Blind River Councillor Dan Middaugh raised the issue at a recent council meeting.
“I was approached by several people that live on the river and they are expressing that they can no longer use it because of the amount of weeds,” Coun. Middaugh said about the weeds in the westerly arm of Blind River. “You can’t swim in it you can’t boat in it and there’s people that are having a hard time with their planes. You can’t go to the restaurant (Pier 17) in a boat because of the weeds.”
Mayor Sally Hagman said climate change is being blamed for the increase in weed growth.
The councillor gave several suggestions about how the weeds might be controlled, including lowering the river water level in the winter to freeze out the plants, or applying a herbicide to control growth.
CAO-Clerk Katie Scott said the town currently has a water management plan in place to control water levels along the river so properties are not flooded.
Council was told Monday that herbicides do exist, however their use would create dead plants going to the bottom and encouraging growth as they decay.
Scott will prepare a report for council at its Sept. 18 meeting related with weeds and water management.