Giant salvinia reappears in MS bay

RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. - The highly invasive Giant salvinia plant that reservoir officials hoped had been eradicated reappeared in Pelahatchie Bay, some 15 miles NE of Jackson, officials announced Oct. 25. The Giant salvinia was first found in the bay in 2018 and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District has been fighting with it ever since. There were no live salvinia plants found since May, PRVWSD officials said. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and Mississippi State University use various techniques, including flamethrowers, to kill the plant. “Raising the lake back to normal levels this week did exactly what it was designed to do, help us determine if any salvinia remained in the bay by exposing it,” PRVWSD General Manager John Sigman said. “Unfortunately, we did not get the answer we were hoping for. On the first day of the assessment, salvinia was found in one area and we began steps to handle it.” The infested area was sprayed. Nearly 3,000 feet of additional boom were added to increase containment. The PRVWSD board held an emergency meeting Oct. 25 and made a decision to close some areas of the bay to boating. (Source: WAPT 10/26/19) Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta), a floating fern from southern Brazil, is currently one of the more problematic aquatic plants. It damages aquatic ecosystems by outgrowing and replacing native plants that provide food and habitat for native animals and waterfowl. Additionally, it blocks out sunlight and decreases oxygen concentrations to the detriment of fish and other aquatic animals. https://www.wapt.com/article/dreaded-giant-salvinia-reappears-at-reservoir/29590020