Illegal alien plant invades Emmarentia
EMMARENTIA – The water hyacinth threatens indigenous life in the dam.
Non-native water hyacinths fill the Emmarentia Dam and threaten the habitat.
Concerned resident, and author of Jane’s Delicious Garden, Jane Griffiths expressed her concern over the growing levels of these invasive plants.
The water hyacinth is described as a free-floating perennial plant that can grow to a height of approximately a metre. It is a very aggressive invader and it also forms thick mats. If these mats cover the entire surface of the pond they cause oxygen depletion and kills the fish.
Griffiths said the dam is close to 90 per cent covered with the weed.
“If left, there is a possibility that when the spring rains come, the hyacinths could break the dam wall.”
The water hyacinth is native to South America. Along with the hyacinth, the dam also has yellow flag iris and purple pickerelweeds which will also aid in the clogging up of the dam and oxygen deprivation.
Griffiths added that it is a shame to see that a beautiful place like Emmarentia can be so neglected. “It is no easy task to get rid of these invasive plants but, with enough people working on it, it can be done.” She found it ironic that there are boards around Emmarentia that all give information of illegal plants and how they should not be there, yet there is an abundance of them already.
She also said that she had spoken to City Parks about the matter but after numerous emails dating back to September nothing had been done about these alien plants. In her last correspondence, it was indicated that the matter would get attended to by 26 October.
The Northcliff Meville Times still awaits comment from City Parks.
