hydrilla invasive plant – Aquarius-Systems

Hydrilla Eradication Efforts Raise PFAS Concerns in New York Lakes

Wed, 28 May 2025 14:18:19 +0000

Hydrilla, a non-native aquatic plant, has been labeled one of the world’s most invasive species. While it can dominate shallow, warm waters in places like Florida, its threat in deep, cold lakes such as those in New York is far less clear. Nevertheless, aggressive chemical eradication campaigns have been launched across the state, including in Cayuga Lake and the New Croton Reservoir—key drinking water sources for millions. These treatments have relied heavily on herbicides like fluridone, often applied in massive quantities over several years.

Fluridone is a PFAS chemical—a class of compounds known for their persistence in the environment and growing links to serious health issues. Despite being banned from use in food packaging and other consumer products in New York, it’s being deliberately applied to drinking water sources at concentrations vastly exceeding current PFAS safety thresholds. Native aquatic plant populations have sharply declined, and no monitoring has been conducted on the impacts to fish, birds, or invertebrates. With millions of New Yorkers at potential risk, experts are calling for more transparency, scientific scrutiny, and a halt to unnecessary herbicide use in critical water supplies.

Hydrilla Control Plan at Lake Waccamaw Could Cost Millions

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 18:59:09 +0000

Lake Waccamaw is infested with hydrilla and officials are hoping fluridone is the answer to killing the invasive aquatic plant.

Officials have chosen fluridone because it is supposed to point only hydrilla with no effect on other plants or animal life. The first treatment cycle will cost $196,660 for three applications and will need to be measure each year.

Rob Emens, an invasive species specialist with the North Carolina Division of Water Resources estimates that the cost will spiral to a total of nearly $500,000 this year and to $4 million within eight years.

Hydrilla Returns to Wallace Lake Prompting New Control Efforts

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 21:24:11 +0000

The highly invasive species, hydrilla has shown up on once again in Wallace Lake, Cleveland Ohio. Due to its ability to grow and spread rapidly aggressive control efforts to eradicate the aquatic plant before it becomes widespread are being taken. First discovered last summer, it was the first of its kind in northern Ohio.

Aquatic herbicides were used, but hydrilla is presenting itself on the lake once again and a full lake treatment will be done. Metroparks’ managers came to the conclusion that boating and fishing were the most likely modes of transporting and spreading the plant, therefore these activities are restricted through September.

Grass Carp Control Hydrilla but Eliminate Vegetation in Smith Mountain Lake

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 15:33:12 +0000

In 2013, 6,000 sterile grass carp were introduced into Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, to combat the growth of invasive aquatic vegetation such as hydrilla which has seen a massive growth around the lake.

When hydrilla was first discovered at the lake in 2007, a patch of the aquatic weeds were just a few acres in size. By 2013, multiple patches had been discovered that equaled nearly 200 acres.

Licensed herbicide applicators treated the weeds for several years until the grass carp were introduced. The herbicide was successful in killing off the hydrilla for a short time, but it would quickly grow back.

Unfortunately, the carp not only consumed their favorite food — the invasive hydrilla weeds that clogged coves and precluded safe swimming and boating — but after eating the hydrilla, they also consumed ALL vegetation in the lake.

Recent inspections in the lake do not indicate regrowth of non-native submerged aquatic vegetation.