Pick o' th' Moment

The Only Good Hyacinth...

As reported in the Fall 1996 Gulfwatch newsletter, water hyacinth in the Armand Bayou of Galveston Bay (Texas) has been done in by the weather. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has been a scourge of southern U.S. waterways since its introduction a century ago.

At least two freezes with temperatures down to 20 degrees F apparently killed every plant, according to Mark Kramer of the Armand Bayou Nature Center. Kramer did not see one water hyacinth on the bayou last summer.

As a consequence, marsh restoration sites in Galveston Bay, that heretofore had to compete with smothering water hyacinth mats, are now growing by leaps and bounds.The largest restoration site is thriving and on its way to full establishment. Workers are spending more time re-planting the marsh and less time pushing, pulling and throwing hyacinths.

Now, if water hyacinths begin to make a comeback in the bayou and in the restoration sites, managers are confident they can control them from the start, with spot treatments of aquatic herbicides.

Gulfwatch newsletter is published by the National Association of Conservation Districts, POB 855, League City, TX 77574-0855; 713/332-3402; or contact Editor Leslie Sanderson at 800/825-5547.



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