OSFR president Joanne Tremblay has sent in the following information on OSFR’s latest activity which to attack invasive plants in the river. This was motivated by complaints about the FWC spraying poison Diquat on the river.
The problem with chemicals is two-fold: first, Diquat is poison and kills aquatic animals as well as plants. Secondly, the plants die and fall to the bottom where they contribute to organic nutrient buildup which is unhealthy.
There is no reason whatsoever to spray poisons in our waterways because we have mechanical methods which are more effective and which remove the plants from the water.
The excuse for using chemicals is simply to save money and this is not acceptable.
Here we have one more example of local volunteers having to do the job that State has failed to do in an acceptable manner.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Thursday July 13th, approximately 20 individuals including Our Santa Fe River volunteers and staff from FWC participated in our inaugural water hyacinth pull.
The water hyacinth is an invasive that whose growth rate is among the highest of any known water plant. Its dense canopy shades out native submerged plants and can uproot native emergent species which are important to wildlife. Additionally, water hyacinth mats lower dissolved oxygen concentrations and this may damage fish populations.
The event was launched after a homeowner along the river called to complain about the spraying of herbicide in the river. Merrillee Jipson sprang into action, organizing a team that will be meeting once a month in the section of the river below River Rise at and above the High Springs Boat Ramp. The goal is to reduce the number of plants that reproduce and float down the Santa Fe, and reduce the amount of herbicide used on the river.
We began the morning with introductions and presentations by Chris Boever, Invasive Plant Manager with the FWC. discussing the high reproductive rate and ease of spread of the hyacinth. Colette Jacono, advisor to OSFR and aquatic biologist, introduced us to some of our aquatic natives and to the AquaHort program which is funded through Our Santa Fe River grants. The AquaHort program explores the reproduction and reintroduction of native aquatics back into their native territories.
We launched our boats from the Canoe Outpost and pulled out several large patches of water hyacinth from both sides of the river between the High Springs Boat Ramp and the Canoe Outpost. After a couple of hours we accumulated four large piles (1500 pounds) of plants which we then bagged and sent off to their new designated permitted location.
Thank you to everyone that showed up and lent a hand. If you are interested in joining us to the next hyacinth pull, simply send us an email and you will be notified.
