Giant salvinia update

I spent the afternoon visiting Caddo Lake in an effort to see how Texas is fighting the giant salvinia infestation in area lakes. Giant salvinia is an aquatic weed that doubles in size in about four days. It has taken approximately 10 years for giant salvinia to spread from Toledo Bend to Caddo Lake. Assuming it spreads at the same speed, we can expect Arkansas lakes to be affected within 10 years.

It will arrive in Arkansas via boat motors and livewells from area anglers (most new infestations are found near boat ramps). Once it takes hold, it will infest an entire lake in one season. It creates a monoculture and suffocates/smothers out all other plant life. I toured Millwood Lake last month to view the build-up of silt and the influx of alligator weeds and hydrilla. Caddo Lake is home to these weeds and others, including hyacinth and different forms of American lotus. Here are some pictures of today's visit to Caddo Lake, where giant salvinia was first discovered in 2006:

We boarded at Uncertain, Texas and stayed mainly on the Texas-side of the lake. Texas has taken a more active role in trying to stop the spread of the aquatic weed. Officials there are serious about gathering giant salvinia and creating a compost area where it can be converted to methane. Here are some previous entries in the blog about Giant Salvinia: 5/20/07; 6/30/07; 7/26/07.