Giant Salvinia Found in Lake Fork

Giant Salvinia is nothing to mess around with. 

Perhaps you are asking yourself exactly what is the problem with giant salvinia. Unfortunately, this highly invasive aquatic plant from Brazil is one of the biggest problems facings Texas waterways. Now that a population has been found in Lake Fork, it's going to be near impossible to stop the spread. In the long run, this could be an ecological disaster for this amazing fishery.

"We are seeing 12-15 total acres of giant salvinia in Lake Fork at this time," said John Findeisen, Brookeland Aquatic Invasive Species team lead in an interview. "There's enough giant salvinia scattered throughout the lake that eradication would be almost impossible at this point. We will continue to search the lake but we also ask that boaters and property owners also keep an eye out for the plant and call us if they see it."

Invasive plants are spread by anglers not emptying their livewells before entering new water. It also happens by other anglers dumping bait into lakes taken from another areas. It's not always the fisherman's fault for the spread of plants like these, but they could go a long way in helping the fight.

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If giant salvinia can take hold in Lake Fork, the natural plants already in the lake are in trouble. After advance spreading, this plant begins to reduce oxygen levels dramatically. Bugs, small fish, and even bigger fish will have to either adapt or die depending on the spread.

Please follow all your local laws in regards to entering and exiting the water. The future of fishing depends on it.

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