(PRWEB) January 25, 2005
On December 10th 2004 the City of Soap Lake was provided the following information on the Canadian Geese problem. To date, the City of Soap Lake has not responded. It is reported that that the Grant County Health Department has tested the water. It is also reported that Council Member Maynard Hagen has been working on the problem. Though Mayor Hovde and the Council Members are aware of the serious nature of the problem, they have not deliberated on this problem, nor taken up consideration of the proposed resolution to address the problem.
The email to the City of Soap Lake follows:
Â?Please provide Mayor Hovde and each city council member with a copy of this e-mail.
The fifteen cities and counties that have already addressed the geese problem, didn’t do so because it could be proven their waterways were affected. In fact, the water is not likely to show traces of the geese feces. If Soap Lake were to have the water tested, it will test just fine.
The real problem is the contamination of the sand, the beaches, the grass, the ground Canada geese frequent and defecate on which is full of feces which would test unsafe for humans to come in contact with and result in the closure of public beaches.
In addition to being the source of high bacterial counts, Canadian Geese are an intermediate host for the parasite that causes swimmers’ itch when the larvae burrow under a swimmer’s skin. With increasing geese populations, more goose feces are excreted in the water, including the parasite’s eggs, increasing the opportunity for the larval parasite to affect swimmers.
It is not worth risking bad publicity already drawn to Soap Lake. The last thing we need is headlines in the Grant County Journal, the Columbia Basin Herald and the Wenatchee World News, read: “Soap Lake beaches contaminated with Canada Geese excrement, parasites and unsafe levels of contaminants.”
Other Washington State Counties and Cities have already taken care of the problem at no added cost to the taxpayers. This solution will take care of the problem, and will not cost Soap Lake taxpayers an added penny.
We take pride in the healing qualities of our Soap Lake water, and clearly want to keep it that way.
This problem requires immediate attention, for health reasons alone.Â?
PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. ______
INVITING THE USDA WILDLIFE SERVICES TO CONTROL THE POPULATION OF CANADA GEESE IN THE CITY OF SOAP LAKE
WHEREAS, the non-migrating population of Canada geese in the City of Soap Lake has grown from almost zero to approximately 1,000 and continues to grow; and
WHEREAS, Canada goose feces contain disease-causing organisms which include salmonella, giardia and cryptosporidium; and
WHEREAS, the accumulation of goose feces at public parks, beaches, children’s play areas, playfields, reservoirs, and other public areas present a public health concern to the 1,750 Soap Lake residents and thousands frequently visiting Soap Lake due to increased risk of exposure to disease organisms by humans who come into contact with the feces; and
WHEREAS, the incidence of human contact with Canada geese fecal materials is on the increase; and
WHEREAS, bacterial contamination traced to Canada geese feces has resulted in the closure of public swimming beaches and added non-point pollution (i.e., pollution that has no specifically identifiable source) to regional lakes; and
WHEREAS, due to the high number of geese in the area, bacterial counts at some of the public swimming beaches are anticipated to be over the closure standards; and
WHEREAS, in addition to being the source of high bacterial counts at a number of regional swimming areas, Canada geese are an intermediate host for the parasite that causes swimmers’ itch when the larvae burrow under a swimmer’s skin. With increasing geese populations, more goose feces are excreted in the water, including the parasite’s eggs, increasing the opportunity for the larval parasite to affect swimmers; and
WHEREAS, numerous methods have been employed by many cities in Washington State to control the Canada goose population, including trapping, relocation to suitable sites, egg addling, repellants and harassment; however, the population of urban Canada geese continues to increase; and
WHEREAS, on May 14, 1999, Public Health – Seattle & King County provided a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Wildlife Services supporting the option of population reduction; and
WHEREAS, on March 22, 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a permit to USDA – Wildlife Services to kill up to 3,500 resident Canada geese from May 1 to September 1, 2000 in King, Pierce, Jefferson, Thurston, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Mason, Kitsap, Clallum, Island and San Juan Counties;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SOAP LAKE CITY COUNCIL
supports the unanimous decision of the Seattle Metropolitan Area Waterfowl Management Committee to invite the USDA – Wildlife Services to control the population of Canada geese in the City of Soap Lake.
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