Aquatic plant was missed during survey, spotted by duck hunter

Sam Rayburn catches case of giant salvinia

A savvy duck hunter pointed state officials to 100 acres of giant salvinia found Oct. 13 in the Angelina River north of Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

Acting with the help of a waterfowl hunter, state personnel investigated and identified the plants in a backwater area called Estes Lake about 10 miles upstream from Marion Ferry and Kingtown, in Nacogdoches County. An annual vegetation survey conducted by airplane last month did not detect the infestation because the survey does not include the Angelina River above Kingtown.

The infestation had apparently been contained by shallow water and dense brush perhaps for a year or more. Low water levels help contain the infestation but recent rains may force the infestation south towards the main portion of the reservoir. Additional surveys are being conducted to define the southern extent of the infestation and determine if the infestation has reached the river channel.

Giant salvinia is highly mobile. The Five Fingers boat ramp on Sam Rayburn recently dodged an introduction of giant salvinia for the second time this year. Thanks to the vigilance of a concerned angler and his willingness to help, the area around the boat ramp was cleaned of all visible salvinia before it could float away and colonize new areas.

A second infestation of giant salvinia was found on Lake O’ the Pines in September. The infestation at the Overlook Park boat ramp reached about 1 acre in size before being detected. The area was quickly contained by oil-spill booms.

Giant salvinia, the most problematic aquatic plant in Texas, has been present in Texas over 10 years. Giant salvinia was first discovered on Toledo Bend in 1998 and before long reached epidemic proportions. A small but persistent infestation remains behind containment booms in Coleman Creek on Sam Rayburn while a highly mobile population seems determined to evade all control efforts on B.A Steinhagen. The fate of Caddo Lake is, at best, uncertain because of the expansion of giant salvinia.

— Texas Parks and Wildlife report

Source: Lonestar Outdoor News, Volume 6, Issue 5, Page 4.
http://www.lsonews.com/images/stories/issues/oct2309.pdf

Lake weed "Giant Salvinia" taking over ponds and lakes in Texas

Lake weed, "Giant Salvinia" is one of the world’s most noxious aquatic weeds, is notorious for dominating slow moving or quiet freshwaters. Its rapid growth, vegetative reproduction and tolerance to environmental stress make it an aggressive, competitive species known to impact aquatic environments, water use and local economies.

Stop aquatic Hitchhikers

BOATERS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL USERS OF FRESH WATER

Clean your boat and other recreational equipment before leaving the ramp or water's edge. Be sure to inspect your boat's hull, motor, livewell, bait containers, and trailer for any fragments so that you do not spread hydrilla to other waterways.

Pond weed effect

Pond weeds are vegetation that grows under, on, or out of the water in a pond. Pond weeds may be undesirable for a variety of reasons.

1. Pond weed may interfere directly with fish production and harvest.
2. Provide hiding place for small fish, pond weed may reduce the effectiveness of predators and hasten the day the fish population becomes unbalanced.
3. Some pond weed give the water an unpleasant taste or smell.
4. Pond Weeds also interferes with fishing, swimming, boating, and almost every other recreational use of the pond.

Example of undesirable pond weed, Hydrilla (aliases: Water thyme, Florida elodea, Indian starvine, oxygen plant), Cattails, Lily pad (Lillypads), etc.

Use of Cattails

Cattails can be brewed into ethanol or charred and briquetted into charcoal.