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States Work Together
to Combat Giant Salvinia on Toledo Bend Reservoir
PRESS
RELEASE
Toledo
Bend Project Joint Operations
November
11, 2009
(Toledo Bend Reservoir) The Toledo Bend Project Joint
Operations, comprised of the Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana and
the Sabine River Authority of Texas (the Authorities) continue to work
together with State agencies and local citizens to combat Giant Salvinia on Toledo Bend Reservoir. Recent heavy
rains have flushed a large accumulation of the vegetation out in the open
allowing better access for treatment. On November 7th and 8th over
2,000 acres of the floating vegetation were sprayed with herbicides by
helicopter. Another 1,400 acres are scheduled to be sprayed in the
next two weeks. This will amount to approximately 9,000 total acres
treated by the two states in 2009. It takes up to two weeks for
effects of the treatment to become visible. Cooler weather will help
decrease the rate of growth for Giant Salvinia.
Special thanks to the leadership of Louisiana State Senator Gerald Long,
Representative Frankie Howard, Texas State Senator Robert Nichols and
Representative Wayne Christian for their continued assistance in working
with this challenge. The Authorities would like to recognize the
efforts of Ricky Yeldell and Gary Tilyou of the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries and
Howard Elder of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The efforts of
the Toledo Bend Lake Association and the Toledo Bi-State Alliance, as well
as other lake organizations have also been instrumental in helping address
this problem.
Giant Salvinia, a rapidly growing invasive plant
that can double in size in seven days, has become a common nuisance on Toledo
Bend and other reservoirs in Texas and Louisiana. Giant Salvinia is not new to Toledo Bend. Native to
South America, the plant first showed up at Toledo Bend in 1998. It
wasn't until 2004 that agencies saw more than 3,000 acres on Toledo Bend
Reservoir. Since then, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife &
Fisheries and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have
been fighting this vegetation with herbicide treatment and the release of
adult weevils that eat the vegetation. The continuing challenge will
always be the rapid growth of the plant and the inability to reach areas
where the plant is growing. With the cooperation of State
Legislators, agencies and concerned citizens, the Authorities will continue
to find ways to address this serious issue.
For more information, contact Jim Pratt, Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana at 318-256-4112 or Jerry Clark,
Sabine River Authority of Texas at 409-746-2192.
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