Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants Salvinia Alert - Eastern GA - * NOW in S.C. *

Pond owners in eastern GA - beware!
Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) was recently discovered in a 9-acre pond near Claxton.
Advice: learn what this plant looks like and avoid it at all cost - or it may cost you a lot.
See the June update at this site for details: Salvinia update

Yikes....Kelly how does this spread?

Giant salvinia is a fern specie, native to South America.

Due to its pentaploid genetic structure, it is incapable of sexual reproduction (similar to triploid grass carp). However, Salvinia is extremely efficient at invading ponds and lakes through plant-fragmentation, followed by rapid vegetative growth. Under ideal conditions, this plant specie is capable of DOUBLING its mass every 2 to 8 days. That is a truly incredible growth-rate!

A lot of papers have been produced on this high-threat species, so I won't create another one here. More plant info and pictures may be accessed at this site: USGA Salvinia Alert

Kelly, Would you share the proprietary names of effective herbicides?

Kelly, Interesting stuff. Sounds like a guy could make a pretty good living growing and selling the weevils. The salinity change method of fighting it could have major future repercussions on the treated body of water. I'm also curious about whether the water could be drained to let the stuff dry out and die or whether it will come back when you "just add water".

Treatments for giant salvinia are similar to those for duckweed.

SONAR is very effective on Salvinia, particularly for ponds with lots of nooks and crannies (or shoreline brush/weeds). Salvinia may be growing, yet obscured in such areas. SONAR permeates the entire pond, so there's no refuge in which the Salvinia may hide.

REWARD is also effective, but EACH plant MUST be contacted if it is to be controlled. Also, unlike duckweed, salvinia has a densely-haired leaf surface. Therefore, additional surfactant is usually needed in order to penetrate the leaf-hairs. Otherwise, spray droplets will never make contact with the leaf surface and the treatment will be completely inaffective.

Dave - though considered an aquatic plant, we have found many situations (ie. Lake Conroe ) where Salvinia can survive for extended periods of time in muddy/moist areas without any surface water - just waiting for the next water-level rise (as with duckweed).

Every coastal state pond-owner needs to be aware of this particular plant. Many aquatic plants may occasionally represent a minor to moderate nusiance. However, Salvinia frequently causes major problems whenever it is introduced to a water body (whether naturally, accidently, or intentionally).

This photo shows the typical results of Salvinia growing in a small pond (photo taken 4 months after the owner unwittingly tossed in a double-handfull of Salvinia because he thought it looked "neat"). No fish survived.... Tomball, TX

I guess that changed his mind on how neat it looked!
Thanks for the heads up Kelly!

I'll make a wild guess as to the fish he had stocked: bowfin, alligator gar, bullhead, green sunfish and warmouth. Liking reptiles, he introduced alligator snappers and water moccasins.

Dudley,
I wish you wouldn't do that .. I had to wipe my screen off while reading your post, with all the sarchasm dripping off it!

Actually, that fellow restocked his pond with snakeheads (sic). Ironically, his minature poodle recently turned up missing.

No sarkasm, Ric. Jus a wile gess.
Poor poodle. Now THAT'S really sad.

I had heard they make good bait for Muskies.
A couple of guys were floating the New river here when they came up on a lady in distress waving & yelling from the bank. She expclaimed "My toy poodle had just jumped in the river for a swim when I saw a big swirl just up there behind that big rock & then she was gone."
They looked at each other & one turned to her & said "Mam I'm really sorry about your dog but I'd like to know just two things .. what color was it & how fast was it swimming?"

lmao , nice one Ric

The TAMU site has some more info on this stuff. http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/GiantSalvinia/index.html. I sure as hell don't want this stuff in my pond. I am fighting off Southern Naiads (I think.) It completely covers my 1/2 acre pond. I was pulling some out of the pond yesterday when I noticed hundreds of fry (1/4 inch BG I think) and thousands of what I think are crawfish. Also saw some snails. Amazing what you can find when you look closely. I decided to leave it alone, let the critters have a nursery for a year.

We just found another pond in TX (Tomball area) that is covered with Salvinia. Should anyone need any convincing regarding the seriousness of this aquatic plant, see the attached picture (yes, there is water underneath infestation). Salvinia infested pond

USGS just reported the discovery of Giant Salvinia in South Carolina / Jasper Co.

Details > SALVINIA MOLESTA UPDATE