Crews Fight Salvinia in Lake O’ The Pines

LAKE O’ THE PINES — A big, bad plant has made an unwelcome appearance in Lake O’ The Pines. It’s giant salvinia, an invasive species from Brazil. Clay Church with the Army Corps of Engineers says the plant can take over a body of water if it’s not controlled. According to Church, “It will actually make a mat so thick that it’ll choke out the native vegetation, plus it makes it hard for aquatic wildlife then to be there.” He says the stuff doubles in size in some areas every week. The Corps closed a boat ramp and hopes it has the salvinia cleaned up, but it’s easily spread. Church says any people who use the lake must inspect their boats and gear anytime they leave one body of water and go to another.