Sunday morning’s project involved the removal of two highly invasive, non-native aquatic plant species – water lettuce and water hyacinth. These species have caused significant problems in other wetland areas of the country where they have been introduced such as in Florida. These two species grow rapidly and if left unchecked would likely cover much or all of the pond’s surface in as quickly as a few years, reducing the quality of the aquatic habitat for a variety of water-dependent wildlife species. Additionally, due to the decomposition of plant material, their increased abundance would very likely cause adverse water quality impacts such as a lowering of dissolved oxygen levels in the water which could harm fish, perhaps resulting in fish kills.
The plants can propagate both through seed germination and vegetatively from plant fragments. Because of the likelihood that some plants or plant fragments went undetected, it is likely that additional “weed pulls” will be required in the future. The weed pull was undertaken by staff and volunteers from the Frank Melville Park, Four Harbors Audubon Society, and student volunteers from the Avalon Preserve.
Thank you to all!
~John Turner
