Hydrilla Infestation – Thank you for your support. Your help is still needed!
LCA President’s Update – September 23, 2022
I want to thank everyone for their recent donations to combat the growing Hydrilla infestation. I am hopeful with your support and support from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) we can avoid a major problem like the ones shown in the pictures in our last newsletter.
Since our last newsletter the growth in Hydrilla in the latest survey is now at 250 acres up from 200 acres. That is on the trend we mentioned in our last newsletter as “doubling in the acres affected” every 3-4 months. The TPWD has now exhausted their supply of ProcellaCOR which is specially designed to eliminate Hydrilla but not impact other native plant species. They will now look to the SJRA to use their current supply of ProcellaCOR and then the SJRA will purchase additional supplies up to the $75,000 mutually agreed purchase target.
From there any more spraying will depend entirely on the LCA funds generated from donations. We have had several sizable donations and many more of all sizes but that puts us only at approximately half of what is needed to reach our $75,000 target. So please keep sending your donations which are classified as tax deductible as the LCA is a 501.3C charity. Please see how to donate below.
At the current pace if the Hydrilla is not aggressively addressed it will be a major problem by this time next year. In addition to spraying TPWD has already added two 500 grass carp stockings over the last two years with 2000 more scheduled for this Fall. TPWD feels that the spraying and increased carp population will ultimately keep in check the current Hydrilla problem if we can raise all the funds to keep up the spraying. Also due to the reduced carp population bushy pond weed is growing significantly. Bushy pond weed is a native species but in years like this it can cause water and dock access issues as well. Like Hydrilla it grows quickly when grass carp numbers drop below the desired populations.
Saturday September 24th LCA “Band Together” – Celebrate the Lake and Enjoy a Family Day
Please attend our fundraiser this Saturday at Walden – 50% of the money raised goes to the LCA and the other 50% goes to participants in several fun events. A great way to “Band Together”, have some outdoor fun on the lake and support a good cause. See information on our website at lcatx.org for detailed schedules and how to participate.
Kevin Lacy – LCA President
Please donate to the LCA as we lead the effort to get Hydrilla under control. Donate via our website at lcatx.org or send your tax-deductible donations to P.O. Box 376 Willis TX 77378
Most recent map of Hydrilla of the growing Hydrilla infestation from the TPWD showing the 250 acres that are impacted.