giant salvinia - Wildlife Management Pro

State Battles Giant Salvinia at Toledo Bend

During the first weekend in November (2009), helicopter crews sprayed EPA-approved herbicides on floating mats of giant salvinia and water hyacinth at Toledo Bend Reservoir, where recent floods had flushed the floating, invasive water weeds into more areas of the rain-swollen reservoir, affecting some 2,000 total surface acres. Late last week, the worst infestations were reported on the Texas portion of the reservoir, with many plants being pushed by southerly winds against the shore and into small south-facing coves, some of which were 100 percent covered.

The herbicide application was done by crews from North Star Helicopter, Inc., of Jasper under contract with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Officials had said the spraying of salvinia might take up to seven days depending on weather, but the company started Saturday morning and completed work by mid-day Sunday using two copters equipped with special spraying gear. It will now take several weeks for plants to turn brown, sink to the bottom and die. Continue reading State Battles Giant Salvinia at Toledo Bend

Texas Battles Giant Salvinia at Caddo Lake

Photo of Giant Salvinia

During the first in week of June, in partnership with the Cypress Valley Navigation District and the Caddo Lake Institute, the Inland Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) launched an offensive against giant salvinia on Caddo Lake. “We are at a tipping point with giant salvinia coverage on Caddo Lake,” said Craig Bonds, TPWD’s regional director for inland fisheries, in a department news release. “If we don’t get on it heavily, we could lose this battle and experience increased levels of giant salvinia, to the point where we won’t be able to control it. We will never eradicate it. This is going to be an on-going fight.” The battle against giant salvinia is being fought mainly by the herbicide boats and a mechanical harvester that gobbles up the plant from the surface of the water and carries it to shore for disposal.

Salvinia-eating weevils are also in use on several lakes, but results are slow. TPWD and Cypress Valley Navigation District crews will be on the lake applying Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved herbicides until about June 12. Each of the five spray boats operating can cover about 40 acres per day. While efforts to combat giant salvinia are expensive–$64,000 for herbicides alone for the current operation–experts say the cost of doing nothing would be greater. Continue reading Texas Battles Giant Salvinia at Caddo Lake

Giant Salvinia Found at Lake Palestine, Sam Rayburn

Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta)

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are moving quickly to control small infestations of giant salvinia on Lake Palestine and Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

Giant salvinia was found for the first time January 28 in Sam Rayburn in the back of Coleman Creek. On Lake Palestine, a citizen reported giant salvinia and water hyacinth in the vicinity of the Kickapoo Creek boat ramp on February 5.

The Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority has temporarily closed the Lake Palestine Kickapoo Creek boat ramp, which is on F.M. 315 south of Chandler. The closure is expected to last at least a month. Continue reading Giant Salvinia Found at Lake Palestine, Sam Rayburn