Got salvinia? 'Just toss it' on dry ground
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Environment Writer
The aggressive aquatic weed that is choking Lake Wilson is difficult and expensive to control once it spreads over large areas, but a state Department of Agriculture official said the small amounts that you might find in a backyard pond or an aquarium are easy to destroy.
"Just toss it on the ground and let it dry," said Larry Nakahara, head of the department's Plant Pest Control Branch.
The Legislature is considering a bill to ban the sale and transport of the alien aquatic weed Salvinia molesta, which can grow extremely fast once it finds itself in calm, warm water that is rich in nutrients.
Nakahara said pet-shop owners, nursery operators or residents who may have ponds with the plant should avoid dumping it in areas where it might grow.
"What you don't want to do is put it in a stream or reservoir. Put it in a dry area," he said. Put it in a compost heap or even throw it in the trash. The dried plant can be tilled into gardens as mulch or compost.
Salvinia is an aquatic fern that has paired, oval leaves up to an inch or so in diameter. A cluster of roots hang into the water below. The leaf surface is covered with tiny white hairs that have been compared to Velcro.
More than $1 million has been dedicated to eradicate the plant from Lake Wilson. The plant has choked the lake's 300-acre surface and is threatening the lake's fish.
Loaders, excavators and bulldozers are among the equipment being used to remove the plant, and herbicide is being sprayed to help kill off the salvinia.
With workers having to spend two hours to repair an excavator, crews didn't remove as much salvinia as anticipated Wednesday.
About 420 cubic yards of the noxious weed was extracted from two sites around Lake Wilson, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Crews at the city site, located behind Kemo'o By The Lake condominiums, only removed about 150 cubic yards — less than half of the daily average — because of the excavator repair.
About 10 acres of the lake were sprayed with herbicide. Crews wanted to spray more, but they were held back because of weather and mechanical problems.
State officials also met with the National Guard at the state site, at the Wahiawa State Recreation Area, to discuss the possibility of working on weekends.
Increased efforts began Feb. 19. Crews have removed more than 10 acres of salvinia to date.
Advertiser staff writer Catherine E. Toth contributed to this report.
