Fishing and swimming will be temporarily stopped today at Lone Star Lake while parts of the lake are chemically treated to kill a leafy weed vegetation, Douglas County commissioners were told Monday.

A liquid chemical called Aquathol K will be used in the southeast arm of the lake and in an area known as the cabin arm, said Mike Perkins, operations manager with the Douglas County Public Works Department.

Swimming will be forbidden for 24 hours and fishing for 72 hours, Perkins said.

Signs and fliers were posted at the lake.

Only a torrential rainstorm would prevent the treatment taking place, Perkins said.

The vegetation has become too thick for boats to move through in some areas near the bank, he said.

It was not known why the vegetation developed or where it came from, he said.

The chemical treatment will be conducted out to 50 feet from the bank.

“We had it last year, and we hoped the grass carp would get rid of it,” Perkins said.

In order to deal with the problem, Public Works consulted with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

In other business, commissioners:

¢ Authorized Public Works to enter a contract with Mr. Haul Away, owned by Benjamin R. Flory, to handle the first phase of the clean up of illegal dump sites at Black Jack Battlefield. The first phase is not to exceed $37,000, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is picking up most of the costs.

¢ Approved a site plan for the reconstruction of a residence and demolition of a garage located at 802-804 E. 1250 Road, owned by Walter and Ruth Hull.

¢ Approved a preliminary plat for a one-lot residential subdivision for Wakarusa Overlook, west of Douglas County Route 1057 south of Kansas Highway 10, owned by Rebecca Thomas.