Lake Bistineau's salvation from Giant Salvinia may be on the horizon with an aquatic plant control plan recently released by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).

On Tuesday, Webster Parish Police Juror Charles Odom informed fellow jurors that the proposal includes herbicide applications, drawdowns and the possible use of harvesting machines to extract plant debris.

Following the discovery of the fast-growing aquatic plant, early control efforts included physical removal and spot treatments with foliar herbicides. Salvinia weevils were also stocked in two test enclosures in August 2007 in two different locations on the lake.

According to the LDWF, Lake Bistineau received more attention in 2007 than any other Salvinia-infested lake in the state.

The LDWF proposal states that control of Giant Salvinia on Lake Bistineau will require "an integrated approach utilizing regularly scheduled drawdowns, aggressive herbicide applications and biological control measures. Mechanical control may provide relief in open areas of the lake."

According to Odom, 17 boats and crews are scheduled to begin herbicide treatments next week. The entire lake will receive treatment, with crews dispersing 250 gallons of herbicide per day.

In addition, Arial applications may be used along the lakes main channel and in areas without a cypress canopy during drawdowns.
"This will address not just Salvinia, but all vegetation," said Odom.

Other nuisance vegetation in the lake includes Alligatorweed (1,200 acres) and Water Hyacinth (350 acres).

A drawdawn is scheduled to begin July 15 and run through Jan. 31, 2009.

"The lake will be dewatered seven feet at a rate of two to three inches per day to minimize the potential of Salvinia being transferred down stream and to maximize the amount of Salvinia stranded on the bank...," stated the LDWF proposal.

The department intends to use floating enclosures stocked with weevil infested Salvinia. These enclosures, which will be able to fluctuate with water levels, will serve as nursery areas for future distribution in areas of the lake that retain water during the drawdown.

The LDWF is currently considering the use of mechanical harvesters to remove Giant Salvinia from open areas of the lake and near boat ramps, water intakes, etc.

"Lake Bistineau, without a successful control program, will probably reach 85- to 95-percent coverage of Giant Salvinia in 2008," stated the proposal. "The lake will become worthless for its traditional uses of boating, fishing and hunting. Fish populations will crash and migrating waterfowl will not have open areas to light. Much of the scenic beauty of the lake will be lost and it is anticipated that property values will fall.

"The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will do everything possible to prevent this from happening," the statement continued. "Lake Bistineau will serve as the Department's test area for methods to control Giant Salvinia. Our goal at the end of 2008 is to have Salvinia weevils established throughout the lake, determine the best herbicide application methods and have reduced coverage from over 4,500 acres to less that 2,000."

Odom said Webster Parish has pledged its assistance in this battle against Salvinia.

"The Parish will do what it can to help," said Odom. "If they can get the water down, the Parish will help remove the vegetation.”
Discussions regarding options in the removal of the vegetation have included utilizing prisoner labor, having a four-wheeler festival to help "chew up" the vegetation and working out a payment method for individuals willing to pull the vegetation from the lake bed.

In other matters, the Jury voted to adopt an ordinance that requires the Parish's two ambulance companies to route all ambulance calls through the Webster Parish E-911 system.