Do what it takes to clean snails from lake

The residents of Wildwood (Grayslake) find themselves pitted against the local park district board over the issue of saving Valley Lake for future generations.

The lake has become infested with snails whose larvae burrow into the skin of anyone entering the lake leaving them with red welts, itching, and even scarring from "swimmers itch." When the residents petitioned the local park district board, they were flatly rejected, accused of lying, and threatened with arrest for harassment for speaking at the meetings during the time set aside for public discourse.

The issue is whether to use copper sulfate to treat the lake and get rid of the snails. The park district claims it could harm the lake, but copper sulfate has and is being used on lakes to treat them for algae and snail infestations, including Valley Lake.

That's right, the Valley Lake Park District Board was shocked to be informed by the residents that the lake's management company was photographed using copper sulfate to treat the lake already. Unfortunately the dosage levels being used are too low to kill off all the snails.

The park district boards' response was to then claim that they didn't approve its use and were not going to pay for it and possibly replace the lake management company.

The battle has now become one more about the egos of the park district board than what is best for Valley Lake. If you think that this doesn't affect you, then I would encourage you to think again. Valley Lake is only about six blocks from Gages Lake and upon looking at a map, you can clearly see that Grayslake, Third lake, Round Lake, and many others are very close.

Birds carry the snails from lake to lake, let's stop it now.

Ken Thomas

Wildwood