Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => News Views & Press Releases => Topic started by: Editor on July 20, 2012, 10:39:30 PM
-
Media release - Vic Fisheries: Water hyacinth outbreak removed from lake
20 July 12
Water hyacinth
One of Victoria's largest water hyacinth outbreaks at Cairnlea Lake in Melbourne's western suburbs has been removed.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) recently coordinated a large treatment program to remove this highly invasive State prohibited weed and prevent it from spreading into other waterways.
DPI Biosecurity Manager Ryan Cooke said approximately one fifth of Cairnlea Lake had been infested with water hyacinth.
"The infestation was a mixture of large mature plants and smaller fragments which had detached from mature plants, floating to other areas of the lake," Mr Cooke said.
"It was manually removed from the banks of the lake and small boats were used to reach infestations that were in deeper water."
Mr Cooke estimated that more than 25 tonnes of water hyacinth material had been removed and securely transported to a deep burial site.
"A survey of Jones Creek, a tributary of the lake, was also undertaken as part of the program revealing several small water hyacinth plants that were immediately removed," he said.
"The site will be closely monitored in the future to ensure any potential water hyacinth regeneration is treated quickly."
Mr Cooke said timely intervention had helped prevent this infestation from potentially becoming much more widespread.
"This plant continues to pose a risk to our waterways and it is imperative that anyone who is aware of an infestation contact DPI immediately on 136 186 to ensure a timely response," he said.
-
25 tonnes of water hyacinth removed - yeah that sounds like timely intervention!