EXOTIC AQUATICS, 1: Alien invaders may be coming to a 
lake near you ... we explain on Passport to Texas.

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

We caught up with biologist Tim Bister on Caddo Lake, 
where he reached into the water and pulled up a mat of 
vegetation.

This is hydrilla here, probably the most abundant invasive on 
the lake, right next to the water hyacinth. :06

But that's changing ... a new exotic aquatic in town. A 
South American import called giant salvinia is widespread 
on Caddo. 

Salvinia is the latest one, and by far the worst. I think everybody 
that lives on the lake should take a very big interest in it. :07

Robert Seight, of the Greater Caddo Lake Association, 
says left unchecked, salvinia could devastate the lake. 
Jack Shaw of the Cypress Valley Conservation District 
agrees. He says giant salvinia grows shockingly fast.

It doubles in size in a week; it blocks out the sunshine; it takes 
oxygen out of the water; all everything just is gone. It's the only 
thing that survives, and it's the type of thing that can just 
completely kill a lake like Caddo. :12

Experts suspect salvinia -- and other exotic aquatics -- 
made it into the US through the aquarium trade or water 
garden trade. And we unintentionally carrying it to new 
locations on our boats and trailers. 

Check your boat trailers; check your boats, so that you don't 
spread this somewhere else. :04

Educate yourself about giant salvinia and other invasive 
aquatic plants. Get more information at 
passporttotexas.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.




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Maximum Script time:		 0:57.0 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25