In 1994 Diana Ludke and other residents who lived on Lake Wilderness had reached the breaking point.
The once crystal clear lake had been overrun by Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive aquatic plant. Not only did it give off a foul smell and an unpleasant appearance, it also made any use of the lake impossible. Fish could no longer survive because the oxygen in the water was consumed by the watermilfoil.
Conditions had deteriorated so badly that Ludke and her husband were unable to get their boat more than 10 feet away from their dock before it got tangled up in the milfoil, and lifeguards had to pull the plants out with their bare hands so children wouldn’t get caught in them while they swam.
“You couldn’t swim, couldn’t take a boat out, couldn’t use it at all,” Ludke said. “It had gone from pristine clear to worse and worse.”
Finally, Ludke and 12 other Lake Wilderness residents got together and decided that action had to be taken.
“We knew if we didn’t do anything it would turn into a bog,” said Ludke, who has lived on the lake since 1973. “Everyone was anxious to do something and knew the direction if something didn’t happen.”
Shortly after, Ludke and her fellow residents created the Lake Wilderness Preservation Association (LWPA), hoping to restore the lake’s appearance. The first step they took was to push for a county ban on internal combustion engines for boats on the lake. Then they formed a selective tax district called the Lake Management District, which applies only to those living within the watershed.
Gradually, the LWPA began to see more and more action taken.
In 1995, the LWPA and King County Surface Water Management Division jointly applied for a grant to develop a plan for long-term control of the watermilfoil.
AquaTechnex, a biology firm which specializes in lake plant management, had divers map out the entire lake in order to determine the best way to clear out the watermilfoil.
In the summer of 1998, Sonar, an aquatic herbicide, as well as Aquathol, was ultimately used to target the milfoil. By 2001, the milfoil had receded substantially and native aquatic plants had started to grow back.
In 2002, Maple Valley formed the Lake Management District Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to help in ongoing aquatic plant management activities on the lake. It meets quarterly at Lake Wilderness Lodge.
With the lake now cleansed of watermilfoil, the Association, which has grown to 40 members, has turned its efforts to maintaining its current condition to ensure the milfoil does not return. Constant treatment by drivers has prevented new plant growth. A lake resident gathers weekly water samples for King County to be analyzed.
In addition, the LWPA also conducts cleaning events to pull trash and garbage out of the lake, as well as that of the surrounding area.
Though they once relied on the selective tax district for funds, the LWPA is now supported entirely through its membership dues. While they have to frequently purchase new and sometimes expensive equipment, in a time where the city and county are tightening their purse strings, Ludke believes financial autonomy is the best approach.
“We never want it to get into a position where the city has to stop funding us,” she said.
For Make a Difference Day on Oct. 22, the Association plans to have a shoreline cleanup followed by a barbeque. Their hope is they will be able to raise awareness about their efforts.
“We’re trying to get the community aware of what we are and what we do,” Ludke said. “Most people have never heard of us. They don’t know how much it takes to keep it clean. They think it’s just water and it’s there.”
