CA: State To Combat Invasive Weed Choking Contra Costa Delta (Egeria Densa aka Brazilian Waterweed)

CBS5 ^ | 3/16/11 | Dave Padilla - KCBS

[NormsRevenge]

DISCOVERY BAY (KCBS) – Boaters and swimmers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta are finally getting some help from the state in removing a non-native plant that is flourishing uncontrollably.

The plant is called Egeria Densa, or Brazilian Waterweed. The South American aquarium plant is notorious for being almost impossible to eradicate. The problem is especially noticeable near Discovery Bay.

”There might not even be any room for boaters to navigate because it’s so thick,” said Gloria Sandoval of the California Department of Boating and Waterways. “And for swimmers, their feet could get tangled in the weeds.”

Starting next month, the state will use an herbicide called fluridone to try to control the weed from growing any further.

[JoeFromSidney]

Invasive species? Just think of it as evolution in action.

[SierraWasp]

Non native plants ping!!!

[Carry_Okie]

Invasive species? Just think of it as evolution in action.

Uh, no thank you. I think of them as a cost foisted upon me by irresponsible importers so that they could save a pittance by comparison.

[tertiary01]

Lakes, ponds, and swamps throughout the deep south are being coked by another former aquarium plant that has gotten into local waters, Duckweed. It even showed up 2 years ago in a small decorative pond in my backyard.

Most duckweed is native, contains 40 percent protein and is totally palatable by almost every existing herbivore.

[JoeFromSidney]

Sorry, I forgot the /sarc tag.

[Carry_Okie]

No problem. It's just that I spent 7 hours today on my hands and knees weeding. I take these things seriously because I know from hard personal experience that they really are serious.