The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Office of Fisheries section treated 1,542 acres of invasive aquatic weeds on Toledo Bend from June 1-5.
LDWF used nine spray crews and 21 employees to broadcast 1,157 gallons of herbicide during the week.
LDWF concentrated their treatment efforts on giant salvinia on the upper half of the reservoir where the more serious problems were located. LDWF estimates that 80 percent of all the treated vegetation was giant salvinia. The remainder of the treated vegetation consisted of water hyacinth, alligator weed and torpedo grass.
“This recent effort along with previous treatments has created open water areas in locations that had been completely covered by vegetation for two years,” said Ricky Yeldell, LDWF Inland Fisheries biologist manager at the Toledo Bend Research Station. “Initial post treatment inspections show good results.”
LDWF expects this large-scale early season treatment in conjunction with the department’s ongoing herbicide applications as apart of their Aquatic Plant Control Program will prevent or greatly reduce vegetation problems later in the growing season.
The Sabine River Authority of Louisiana provided out of town LDWF spray crews with lodging. The Toledo Bend Lake Association and the Bi-State Alliance provided meals for LDWF employees.