Commissioners have discussed doing its own treatment of infested areas of the lake but have reached no decision and did not reach one tonight.

Elton Brown, president of the council, told the board, counties are responsible for raising the money since the organization became nonprofit. “If they don’t fund us, we don’t exist.”

Brown told commissioners if Halifax dropped out it could have significant implications, including money the council receives from the city of Virginia Beach. “If one county dropped out Virginia Beach would be able to withdraw money. That’s one funding area we would probably lose.”

The council has agreements from the federal to the state levels in North Carolina and Virginia, including agreements with fishery commissions which could affect the introduction of grass carp into Halifax should the commissioners decide to treat hydrilla alone.

Then there is a perception issue, Brown explained. “By going individually, the lake is treated as Lake Gaston, not five counties around the lake. People see it as a lake problem not a county problem. To individually treat could cause the demise of multiple funding sources if not the council itself.”

Commissioner Gene Minton said the county was talking about using its own funds to treat noxious weeds.

“If you treat yourself you are effectively pulling out,” Brown responded. “If you start your own treatment you would no longer be part of the entire treatment.”

One of the reasons the county is looking at doing its own treatment is because Northampton did fund anything for the current fiscal year. “If you can’t fund you’re not necessarily dropping out,” Brown said. “Under the current economic conditions we understand.”

Northampton, Mecklenburg and Warren counties have indicated they will commit funds for the upcoming fiscal year, Brown said.

Most counties are willing to forgive funding lapses, Brown said. Last year $154,000 was spent on treatment in Halifax County.

“What would be the effectiveness of doing our own thing?” Board Chair James Pierce asked.

“For every year you don’t treat you lose one year of funding if not two,” Brown said.

Bob Richardson, an N.C. State assistant professor, told commissioners, “The best way to address Lake Gaston is to approach it as a whole, all of the players coming together in one room and hashing out a management plan. It would be difficult to advise five different counties. If they go out on their own you’d have five different problems you’d have to solve.”

Brown said the council has learned the rules of not only the counties around the lake but the states and federal agencies which have a say in matters concerning the lake.

Minton said the board supports the council but he had concerns about equal funding. Halifax contributed $58,000 this fiscal year while Northampton contributed nothing.

Commissioner Carolyn Johnson said, however, historically Northampton has made its obligation.

“There are some years when we don’t do as much as the other counties,” Pierce said.