Warm winter could mean increase in Salvinia
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: April 3, 2012
Louisiana has already spent $8 million fighting the spread of the invasive plant salvinia, one of the world's worst aquatic weeds. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary, Robert Barham, says the the warm winter could mean an increase growth this summer.
The fast growing plant chokes off oxygen and kills fish, ruins conditions for boating and clogs irrigation systems. Barham says salvinia can double in size in less than a week and the warm winter could mean an increase this season.
Barham says despite the state's best efforts, the weed continues to spread. He says part of the problem is that Texas isn't doing as much as Louisiana to combat salvinia and some boats from Texas are spreading it to waters here.
The fast growing plant chokes off oxygen and kills fish, ruins conditions for boating and clogs irrigation systems. Barham says salvinia can double in size in less than a week and the warm winter could mean an increase this season.
Barham says despite the state's best efforts, the weed continues to spread. He says part of the problem is that Texas isn't doing as much as Louisiana to combat salvinia and some boats from Texas are spreading it to waters here.
