South American Weed Migrates To Nw Lakes
A fast-growing aquatic weed called hydrilla has been found in two King County lakes, the first known occurrence of the plant in Washington and the farthest north it has been reported in North America, the state says.
The weed, originally from South America, poses a hazard to swimmers, boaters, anglers, and fish and wildlife, said Mary Riveland, director of the state Department of Ecology. She said Friday that unless the weed is controlled, it could pose a bigger problem for lakes and rivers than Eurasian milfoil, an aquatic weed the state has been fighting since 1975.
“Hydrilla is of particular concern because it can be a safety hazard to boaters or swimmers if they become entangled in the weeds,” Riveland said.
Because it multiplies so fast, hydrilla is hard to get rid of. Florida has spent $56 million in the past five years to try to eradicate the weed, the state said.
Hydrilla was first spotted in June in Pipe and Lucerne lakes, which are connected. The plant has tiny spines on its leaflet edges and small white flowers that bloom in mid- to late summer.
The plant forces out native aquatic vegetation needed for fish and wildlife habitat, said Scott Bonar, state Fish and Wildlife Department biologist.
It forms thick mats at the surface that lessen the natural mixing of oxygen to lower levels of the water. The mats are so thick they make fishing or other recreational activities virtually impossible, he said.
The Ecology Department is working with the state Noxious Weed Control Board to have hydrilla listed as a Class A weed, meaning steps can be taken to destroy it. The state Agriculture Department already has a plant quarantine against the weed entering the state.
Experts speculate the weed probably entered the lake by “hitchhiking” on water lily tubers or from someone dumping an aquarium.
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