Victory is declared in fight against invasive water plant
But more work is needed to prevent resurgence
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Mission accomplished. Sort of.
Representatives of an amalgam of government and environmental groups announced Tuesday the "successful eradication" of an invasive South American plant that was choking off Peconic River fish habitats.
The speakers on the riverfront in Calverton credited not only inter-agency cooperation and grant money, but also 350 volunteers and 1,500 man-hours in the triumphant, three-year-long effort to clear Long Island's longest river of ludwigia peploides, also known as water primrose.
The state's Department of Environmental Conservation's Long Island director, Peter Scully, kicked off the celebratory press event by noting what a rare occasion it was to declare victory over an invasive species.
He also thanked those involved, including DEC staff, The Nature Conservancy, Peconic Lakes Estates Civic Organization, Freshwater Anglers of Long Island and Long Island Bassmasters.
"This successful eradication program shows how, when organizations and volunteers work together toward a common goal, a seemingly impossible challenge can be overcome," he said.
And to keep other invasive species at bay.
"This is a real success story. But this is not over," said Rick Balla of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New York City office. "There are lots of other plants and animals that are just waiting to get into the river and the watershed."
One of five DEC signs that outline the ongoing battle against the aquatic plant also was unveiled at the event. Each of the signs, all placed at access points to the river, shows pictures of the brightly colored, lush green plant -- ludwigia spreads like a blanket over slow-moving water -- and explains how swimmers, kayakers and anglers can identify and remove the weed.
"We've really knocked the weed back so that it's just a sprig here and a sprig there, but if those sprigs are left, it will come back," said DEC fisheries manager Charles Guthries, explaining the idea behind the signs. "We didn't want to be in the business of planning major weed pulls every year. So what we thought we could do is recruit the other users of the river to help pull the weed whenever they saw it."
The movement to remove the plant from the river was launched in 2006, DEC officials said. And while it's unclear why the aquatic plant began showing up in the river in 2003, one theory traces it to its ornamental use in landscaped ponds, said Laura Stephenson, the DEC's Peconic Estuary Program coordinator.
"And it reproduces by fragments," she said. "So if you have a fragment and it breaks off and you put it somewhere else, it can form a whole new infestation. It can even get stuck on somebody's boat propeller, and then you put the boat in another body of water and there you go."
Although the spread of ludwigia currently is contained, maintenance harvesting events still are necessary throughout the river to prevent its return, DEC officials emphasized. Two "weed pulls" are scheduled for this summer, the first July 11 and the second Aug. 8. Those willing to volunteer should contact Laura Stephensen at 631-444-0871.
mwhite@timesreview.com
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