Commissioners approve funding to eliminate invasive species at Mosquito Lake

$300K over 3 years will aid efforts at Mosquito Lake

WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners voted 2-0 to provide $300,000 over a three-year period to use a fluridone chemical treatment to stop the spread of an invasive species across Mosquito Lake.

Commissioners Denny Malloy and Mauro Cantalamessa voted in favor of providing the funding needed to combat hydrilla by hiring Ohio Lake Management Services of Chardon. Commissioner Niki Frenchko did not attend Wednesday's meeting.

"This is an issue brought to us by boaters, skiers and people with docks on Mosquito Lake about the harmful effects of this aquatic invasive species, hydrilla," Malloy said. "It is a plant that grows in mats and spreads quickly."

"It makes it to a point that boating is not possible, skiing is not possible and swimming is not possible," he said. "It is not the regular plant life on the lake."

Hydrilla has been identified as one of the most problematic and invasive aquatic plants in the United States. It is native to Southeast Asia and was introduced in Florida in the late 1950s, and is now found in at least 29 states.

There are more than 100 acres of hydrilla on the lake right now, according to Malloy.

"Scientists have told us that if we don't act now it will double by next year," he said.

It also has been seen in northeast Ohio in the Pymatuning Reservoir and Alum Creek Lake.

The plant could have spread to the lake in numerous ways, including swimmers accidentally bringing it on their swimming trunks, or boaters having the plant on the bottom of their boats or on engine propellers.

Malloy said the county received some matching money from the state and the federal government in the county's fight against the invasive species.

"This is an economic issue," he said. "The economy on Mosquito Lake is crucial to what happens to the whole county's economy. If people stopped boating, stopped fishing and stopped utilizing the lake it would cripple our economy. This is the second largest (inland) lake in the state. Mosquito Lake is an economic engine."

In other news, commissioners voted to:

-- Use $250,000 from the county's American Rescue Plan allotment to help Liberty address stormwater management at the township's Center Park and $200,000 more to improve the township's baseball fields, picnic pavilions and walking paths at the park.

-- Give up to $30,000 to study whether to retain or eliminate the Leavittsburg Dam. County Engineer Randy Smith is expected to provide up to $10,000 for the study.

-- Go into executive session to discuss the lawsuit filed by Frenchko against commissioners, including former Commissioner Frank Fuda, Cantalamessa, Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe and two deputies. Commissioners spoke to attorneys Helen Sudloff and Dan Downey. No action was taken after the executive session.

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