Water Hyacinth has moved into the Laguna Creek watershed neighborhood. Water Hyacinth is an invasive aquatic plant that causes many problems! This plant can be found though out the Laguna Creek watershed in Laguna Creek and Elk Grove Creek. It grows rapidly on the surface of the water, impeding the free movement of water and increases flood risk. It also alters many water quality parameters (eg., reducing pH and dissolved oxygen levels) adversely affecting aquatic life. This can affect the health of fish and other aquatic organisms.
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is rated as one of the most invasive plants by the California Invasive Plant Council. A native of South America, Water Hyacinth was introduced into theUnited Statesin 1884 as an ornamental plant for water gardens. The plant quickly spread throughout the country, becoming a major invasive plant inCaliforniaby 1904.
How do you recognize it and where do you find it? Water Hyacinth is a floating aquatic plant with bright green, waxy leaves, and violet flowers. They are attractive looking plants. Sometimes it can be found growing in muddy soils near the edge of a creek, river or pond. Wherever it is found, it tends to spread rapidly. It spreads as sections of established plants break off of the ‘mother’ plants; or it may re-sprout from rhizomes; or germinate from the release of seeds produced by the flower. The seeds sink to the bottom of the waterway and can remain viable for several years, letting them sprout when environmental conditions are right. Flowering occurs in mid-summer through early fall.
Once properly identified, how can you get rid of Water Hyacinth? The best method of controlling Water Hyacinth is prevention; educating neighbors and city officials about the problem is a good first step. This means making people aware of the consequences of disposing of unwanted water garden or aquarium plants in the creeks; or informing residences of the need to carefully clean fishing equipment or bait buckets that might contain hyacinth seeds or plant remnants before using it in a different waterway.
Removal of existing plants of Water Hyacinth requires the intervention of the City. Contact the Elk Grove Public Works Department at (916) 478-2256 to report any sightings of this highly invasive plant, and strongly encourage the City to take immediate action to remove it.
Have fun this summer and do whatever you can to reduce the risk of spreading Water Hyacinth.