The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has confirmed the presence of giant salvinia in Chaney Branch on Lake Fork. The infestation appears to be confined to this branch and another small cove west of the dam and occupies an estimated 3.25 acres. Judging by the distribution and age of the plants, it is apparent it has been in place for several months. As is the case for other introductions in East Texas, the plants were most likely introduced to the lake by boat trailer.

Lake Fork�s controlling authority, the Sabine River Authority (SRA), immediately closed boat ramps at Chaney Point South and Secret Haven, which are located at the westernmost end of Chaney Branch, in order to eliminate any further risk of spreading this invasive plant. The SRA has also conducted reconnaissance at bridge crossings and conducted shoreline surveys by boat to look for additional infestations.

Crews from the SRA and TPWD have physically removed salvinia plants and placed them in garbage bags for disposal. Additionally, crews have placed approximately 1,100 feet of floating boom across the creek, containing the infestation within the 90-acre cove.

SRA staff has also installed a floating sign and lights to alert boaters to the presence of the floating boom.

TPWD staff will be conducting a chemical treatment using glyphosate. All efforts will be made to protect beneficial aquatic plants while focusing treatment on killing the invasive giant salvinia. TPWD will continue to conduct additional surveys to check for the spread of the plant to other areas of the lake, and additional physical removals will be done if necessary.

Efforts to increase public awareness will be increased by installing warning signs at major boat ramps. Boaters and property owners are urged to clean, drain, and dry their boats and trailers in between trips and to report additional infestations outside of the Chaney Branch area by calling (903) 593-5077, (903) 570-5745, or by emailing kevin.storey@tpwd.texas.gov.

Giant salvinia is a floating fern native to Brazil. It reproduces by budding and spreads easily by the movement of wind and water currents. Giant salvinia grows rapidly and can double in coverage in a week. Uncontrolled, giant salvinia can impede navigation, block sunlight from reaching the water and hamper fishing.

This incident is a painful reminder of the importance of cleaning all plant material from your boat, trailer, and towing vehicle and draining your boat before leaving a lake. Transportation of aquatic invasive species is illegal in Texas.

For more information on giant salvinia and other invasive species, visit http://www.texasinvasives.org/.

That is not something anyone needs right now. That stuff is bad news.

Another grass-less year at Fork (bye bye Hydrilla)

Well if it means that all the giant salvania is gone I could go without hydrilla. That stuff is bad news for sure. Fish can't even live in it. Takes all the oxygen and sunlight away from everything it covers. It can double in size in as little as 4 days. Look at what it's done to Caddo.

any updates on this?

Also found in Sandlin about 3 months ago.

Waiting for report on zebra mussels in Fork

As I understand it, there's not enough calcium in Fork for zebra mussels to gain a foothold. They need the calcium to build their shells.

People report Nessie being seen swimming near dam. Pets reported missing. Dallas offering to drain reservoir.

Any new news pertaining to Giant salvinia on Lake Fork? Is it under control or is it potentially spreading? Thanks in advance!

A few days ago, I talked to some residents of the RV park at the end of Chaney. They told me that spraying was done again last Tuesday and the results would be checked again 3 weeks hence. The hope is to control the spread.
I know that this info imparted to me is second hand, but I would regard it as reliable.
The barrier is still up at the end of the cove. No idea how long it will remain there.
Since the barrier is still up and the area was sprayed again, I assume that salvinia was found alive. I do not know the extent.

KILL IT... KILL IT ALL, no matter if it kills all the other plants in the cove. Sulvinia molesta took over our lake here in Hawaii and the lake was CLOSED for over a year while they had to physically remove all the plants and then spray the shoreline with roundup. Two boats pulling a 50 foot boom would drag it over to a boat ramp where a back hoe with a scoop could load it into a dump truck...

What made the state act so quickly was the fear that ALL the fish would be killed and create a major health problem with all the flys and rotting fish.

The lake looked like a golf course. The stuff is so thick you can't push through it with your bass boat. The long hairlike roots get sucked up into the motor and clogs the impeller. That is expensive to replace, let me tell you. Yes, NO FISHING for one year.. and cost the state over 1.2 Million Dollars to clean the Sulvinia Molesta out of a 400 acre lake. It multiplies... DOUBLES IN AREA... in 5 to 9 days. One day there is a patch the size of a tennis court, The next week it's the size of a basketball court, and the following week it covers an area the size of a football stadium. Can you imagine if Lake Fork was CLOSED because you couldn't get your boat in the water. The entire surface of the lake carpeted with a thick green mass? Kill it all as fast as you can.

This is a picture of two boats collection the sulvinia molest and dragging it over to the back hoe to be loaded into a dump truck.
See all the overhanging trees along the shoreline? They had to be cut and removed to get the sulvinia out from under them.
You do not want this nasty stuff in Lake Fork...

we saw some by rainswood. this stuff is bad. When we out in pontoon boat, we pick up and bring home and burn. and if any on our shoreline, we scoop it out too. everybody needs to pitch in to remove. Bad bad stuff.

Wow!!