Water
hyacinth may look pretty, but it's a weed that grows faster than
any known plant.
The California
Department of Boating and Waterways is responsible for clearing
the hyacinth, which can double in size every 10 days. |
Aquatic
Weed Alert!
The colorful
and often-beautiful water hyacinth is quickly taking over the Sacramento/San
Joaquin Delta.
What
can you do?
Do
not use water hyacinth to decorate ornamental ponds.
It could get into waterways and storm drains.
If
you have hyacinth in your pond, put the plants in a plastic bag, seal it, and then send
it to the garbage (seeds can still germinate after 25 to
30 years).
Check
bilge pumps and boating equipment when leaving an infested
area to make sure you are not spreading the weed. If
you see hyacinth in the Delta, report it to the California
Department of Boating and Waterways (888) 326-2822. |
This is a concern
for CCWD because the only source of water for the 550,000 District
customers is the Delta, and the hyacinth -- which grows faster than
any known plant -- has the potential to degrade CCWD's water quality.
The hyacinth,
a South American plant imported into California in the early 1900s,
not only chokes waterways but reduces oxygen levels in water and
increases the deposit of silt and organic matter at several times
the normal rate.
All of which
is bad for the Delta, our drinking water supply, fish and the ecosystem.
Want more information? Click here.
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