The spread of Giant Salvinia -- Update

My area of the state has been the introductory gateway for various nuisances in Arkansas: first it was fire ants, and this session it was killer bees. The next irritant from this direction is serious business and comes in the form of an aquatic weed called Giant Salvinia. Think of kudzu on steroids.

Here are a few illustrations of areas just south of here that are experiencing the problem. This first picture is Caddo Lake in its natural habitat (50 miles south of Texarkana). The next picture is a recent illustration of the infestion in the lake. This picture was taken during the winter, which has no effect on the growth of the weed.




Giant Salvinia is native to southeast Brazil. It was discovered in Houston in 1998. It was first discovered in Caddo Lake in 2006, and it's just a matter of time before it makes its way into Arkansas via boat motors and livewells from area anglers (most new infestations are found near boat ramps). The Texas Legislature is taking up the issue now in an effort to make the problem known to area residents. Once it takes hold, it will infest an entire lake in one season.

Here's another picture of Caddo Lake taken the same year it was discovered there. This shows how thick the infestation gets -- boats can't travel through it. The 2nd pic is an aerial shot of Toledo Bend on the Texas/Louisiana border.




It creates a monoculture and suffocates/smothers out all other plant life. It can be treated by a spray, but unless the entire weed is killed, it'll just come back, and it normally doubles in size in 4 days. Researchers have tried freezing it/scorching it to no avail. It's pretty tough stuff. There are apparently some Salvinia eating beetles in Australia that can help, but they're vulnerable to cold weather. Here are signs being posted notifying residents and fishermen of the danger:





Update -- Business Opportunity: How about rounding up all the salvinia and converting it to biofuel?