The city of Portage la Prairie has begun its herbicide treatment of Crescent Lake to help kill off excess vegetation growth, to make the body of water look more aesthetically pleasing throughout the summer months.

Public Works manager Brian Taylor says crews started application on the west side of Crescent Lake this week, and will continuing moving eastward throughout next week. Kayakers, boaters and those brave enough to swim are advised to avoid areas under herbicide application for up to three days after the product's been applied, as it's an irritant.

"Once it's sprayed, it goes to the bottom and lands on the weeds and within 24 hours there is no residual effect," Taylor explains. "We recommend no one goes out on the water in the area while we're doing it. You can go to a different part of the lake. We just ask you're in the the part (where an application's been done) for three days after."

Taylor expects the herbicide application to be completed by the end of next week.