Technical Review Panel for Clear Lake

3294 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA 95832

In large eradication projects or in new circumstances, CDFA often brings in outside experts to evaluate the situation and recommend strategies and treatment methods. When the Clear Lake Hydrilla Eradication Project began in late 1994, such a Technical Review Panel outlined the approach to the project. When hydrilla returned to Clear Lake in 2007 after treatments ended in 2005, the Hydrilla Program decided to convene another Panel to review the project and recommend improvements.

In late October, 2009, a Panel of four outside experts spent two days at Clear Lake, studying the project's methods, reviewing its history of treatments and survey, and considering possible improvements. Participating in the Panel were: Dr. Lars Anderson of the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and the University of California, Davis; Dr. Tyler Koshnick, Director of Research and Development for the manufacturer of the Sonar herbicide; Rachel Woodfield, of Merkel Associates, who led the successful eradication effort against caulerpa in San Diego; and Scott Ruch, late of Remetrix, who performs the plant survey and evaluation of treatment effects for the Department of Boating and Waterways' efforts to control egeria in the Delta. The group suggested about 40 refinements for both survey and treatment, but supported the overall goal of eradication and the general approach of the project. Their report is available below.