A new infestation of hydrilla, an invasive species of plant that can choke waterways with its rapid growth, was found on Cayuga Lake in October, prompting experts Wednesday to warn about the plant’s ability to spread.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service describes the aquatic plant as “the world’s worst invasive plant,” largely for its extreme ability to reproduce. Like the mythological Greek Hydra for which it’s named, hydrilla can grow an entirely new plant from a single stem fragment, clogging waterways for swimmers, boats and native fish with significant negative effects on local economies and biodiversity.
In October, a field crew from the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith colleges requested access to a private marina on Cayuga Lake in King Ferry to survey for hydrilla as part of a lake-wide survey conducted with the Finger Lakes Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management.
The Auburn Citizen:
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