Invasive Species cause many, many problems.For example they can make drainage pipes stop up and even city water supply pipes to stop up.”It’s  a huge challenge to address these problems all across our state and no one or organization can do it alone the scale of the problem is just staggering,” says Tim Birdsong.”However, less transport and birds are two solutions that guarantee aquatic plants to have a positive impact on East Texas ecosystems.

 

          An exotic is a species coming into a non-native place that isn’t supposed to be there. Invasive species are species that don’t belong or are not native to that certain place. Have you ever been to a lake such as lake cherokee that is covered in thick green leaves,that was giant salvinia.

          As a matter of fact about 50,000 non-indigenous species have come into the United States in the past 200 years. However,we do have solutions currently such as weevils and different types of herbicides. Weevils are so tiny when they eat stuff like giant salvinia they get full only after a few bites. On the other hand,the herbicides do not kill only plants they poison and kill some fish and other things in and that drink the water.And they are not working because we still have invasive don’t we.

 

           One solution to invasives is less transport. One way you can put a stop transport is by the clean,drain,dry rule. A way you can do that is by opening all of your valves,and clean your trailer so nothing is left on your boat or trailer. Another way you can make sure you’re not transporting is by getting your boat inspected. If you get your boat inspected at the boat ramp you will know for sure you are not a transporter. Less transport is one way to stop invasives.

 

           A natural way to stop invasive species is birds. Recent studies show that the birds will fly down and eat the invasives. Birds such as, seagulls, ducks and geese are the birds that will do things like this.So many people are probably thinking what if the birds get full,well if we put things that smell like fish on top of them they will fly down and eat it.

          Two things that will guarantee aquatic plants to have a positive impact on East Texas ecosystems are less transport and birds. Just picture a family day at the lake with your children and grandchildren ,but you get there and the lake is closed due to Invasives.Do you want this to be your lake day.