Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Invasive aquatic plant species can be devastating. This month the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series highlights invasives at Caddo Lake. Series Producer, Alan Fisher.

Caddo has an amazing diversity of native plants, but also an amazing diversity of invading plants, unfortunately. Hydrilla is a big problem.

This is hydrilla here, probably the most abundant invasive on the lake, right next to water hyacinth.

And then the newest is giant salvinia.

There’s a piece right yonder. That’s it. Yeah, it’s not very big yet. This one little thing here can expand into acres and acres and acres.

How do you eradicate an invasive?

Well, one of the biggest tool in their toolbox, I guess, to battle invasives is just getting the word out. Letting people know that we’re the one getting these plants around. People with boats pulling them in and out of lakes need to make sure their trailers and boats are clean when they do so. It’s actually a misdemeanor to transport invasive plants whether you know it or not.

And, so, what do you hope the take away is?

I hope that people can just be more mindful after learning about this topic. You know, there are things that we can all do. Average citizens are a really valuable tool in combating all these plants.

Thanks, Alan. Learn about invasive exotics at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TPW TV: Invasive Plants at Caddo Lake Play Now | Play in Popup | Download