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Posted By:
Nickens, Dan
Date Posted:
Aug 19, 2018
Description:
Some days it's hard to get out of the hangar.
Hurricane Irma blew up a mess of hydrilla on Lake Harris last year. The green invaders grew from aquariums back in the 1950's. Apparently some aquarium supply shops decided to grow their own in state water instead of importing it from southeast Asia. Now anyone can find it just about anywhere!
Date Taken:
August 17, 2018
Place Taken:
Once-a-Tajmahangar, Howey, FL
Owner:
Nickens, Dan
File Name:
- Photo HTML
Full size - <img src="/show.php?splash=7Mxo2OK9rh">
Medium - <img src="/show.php?splash=7Mxo2OK9rm">
Thumbnail - <img src="/show.php?splash=7Mxo2OK9rs">
Category:
Florida Flying
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Click on photo to view the original size. |
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Read what others had to say:
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Fortunately there is still a way out if you have an airboat or seaplane.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Kerry has no worries getting out of Lake Idamere. The storm didn't blow in the green mess there.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Even though he gets close to the weeds, he didn't catch any (this time).
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Kerry leaving a trail of water, not weeds.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Kerry wasn't the only one out playing.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Jerry was out in his new Husky checking out the high rising weeds.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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The Husky looked great on the dark water, making its own rainbow with the front mounted prop.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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You can't keep a good seaplane down.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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The Husky is no SeaRey but it didn't waste a lot of time on the water either.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Hydrilla hasn't completely taken over central Florida. In between the mats of hydrilla you can still find little patches of open water.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Alligators can actually crawl over the hydrilla mats, but they can only get under quickly when the water is open.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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There are some islands of native plants, but they are surrounded by hydrilla working its way to the surface.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Submerged and floating hydrilla has altered the hydrology. It imposes calm areas where the wind would normally be whipping up waves.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Even when it's underwater the hydrilla contagion breaks up the waves.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Just under the surface it's getting thick, waiting for just the right time to break out.
Hydrilla can grow at a rate of 191 inches per day based on a 2012 study of a 5" segment monitored over 5 weeks (the 1" per day rate often quoted grossly under-estimates the plant's prolific capability). Because of its prodigious propagation rate it overwhelms native species, creating monocultures. It forms thick mats on the water surface which traps heat and depletes dissolved oxygen content. It restricts navigation, clogging boat motors, and slows water movement used by managers to prevent flooding. There are published reports of people drowning when becoming entangled in the stringy plants. The plants can grow in water up to 25' deep.
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Jon Ladd - Aug 20,2018
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I think I gotta call BS on 191 inches/day.
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Eric Batterman - Aug 20,2018
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From the study:"Hydrilla grows very quickly. For many years, it was believed that the species could grow an inch per day. However, Glomski and Netherland (2012) found that a single 5-inch long cutting of hydrilla rooted, grew, and expanded three-dimensionally by forming hundreds of new stems, lateral branches, and stolons over the course of a 5-week period. Collectively, new growth produced by the original cutting represented lengthening of up to 191 inches per day (Glomski and Netherland 2012), so the “inch per day†theory is a drastically low estimate of hydrilla’s growth potential"
from the study - In a 5 week period, a 9" shoot generated total of 3,200" of linear shoots (including hundreds of new branches).
I calculate a daily 18% growth rate (approx) - or a doubling of green stuff every 4 or so days.
The "lengthening" of 191" per day is just bad statistics, based on their arbitrary 5 week period.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 20,2018
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Ha! What Eric said, Jon! How about bringing a cooler over to the hangar formerly known as Tajmahangar, we'll sit on the dock with some measuring tapes and see if the green stuff grows as big as one of them fish tales!
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 21,2018
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Of course all that scientific testing could just be elitist propaganda, so here is what I observed. In October 2017 before Irma there
was no visually significant population of hydrilla. Now half the Lake is affected. That’s 0.5 x 3718 acres at an average depth of 8
feet, or almost 15,000 acre-feet infested (1/2 of 30,000 acre feet) in 240 days, or 62 acre-feet per day, or say 4.7 billion cubic
inches per day! That 191 inches per day looks pretty conservative now, eh?
What?
🤪
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Eric Batterman - Aug 22,2018
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The growth rate in your calculations is about 10% per day - much less than the elitist study! Notwithstanding that the stuff isn't solid (I would guess that there is maybe 10% green stuff for cu in of water), but that doesn't change the calculation.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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It may be calm and glassy, but the green dimpling makes it easier to find the top.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Kerry does his best to help clean out the approach to my ramp. Does he know it's against the law to transport hydrilla?
Hyrilla propagates by multiple means, including detached fragments. Boats, trailers, birds, and seaplanes can spread it to unaffected areas. But I didn't do it. Hurricane Irma is blamed for the current explosion.
It is listed as a "Noxious Weed" by both the state and federal governments. It is also on the Florida Prohibited Aquatic Plant list. Knowingly transporting it is a criminal act (but if you accidently catch a sprig without intending to sell or spread it you have a legal defense).
Typically hydrilla is controlled by herbicides. The FWC has allocated $1m for emergency treatment of the Harris chain starting in the next few weeks.
After Kerry's clearly expressed frustration over the state of my ramp I didn't wait for the FWC. I mechanically cleared a small open area. If you time it just right you can lower the gear in open water and it locks in place just before contacting the ramp. Risky, but exciting.
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Bill West - Aug 19,2018
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The Conway chain in south Orlando was so choked with hydrilla that it was impossible to run a boat. This was 40 years ago. The
state introduced white amur carp to the lakes and though it took many years, the fish completely cleaned out hydrilla. Some of
those fish lived for 20 years and grew to 40 lbs or more. Not sure if the FWC still uses them as they turn to another food source
when the hydrilla is gone.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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That's the problem with grass carp, Bill: they eat everything! Even though they were sterilized and couldn't reproduce, after the hydrilla was gone they went after native species. They are regulated and you need a permit to have one, so, no sneaking one from the aquarium into the lake! Now, why can't they introduce OLD carp that only have a few months to live.....
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Carr, Frank - Aug 19,2018
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While I regret hearing and seeing your hydrilla problem Dan, it's somewhat heartening to know that at least one water
problem wasn't caused by the Army Corpse of Engineers.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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You are too nice, Frank, absolving the Corpse of culpability. Where do you think the aquarium supply guys planted the hydrilla: in a Corpse canal, of course!
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Eric Batterman - Aug 19,2018
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Horrible invasive problem, but amazing air to air (or splash) photos, esp the dark water rainbow.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 19,2018
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Thanks, Eric. There is a bright side: I no longer have to share my launch area with fishermen. Before the hydrilla I'd often ramble
down the ramp to find a boat parked there. Some of them seemed to foolishly believe my brakes could stop a runaway SeaRey after
it started plunging downslope. Sycared them and me too!
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Don Maxwell - Aug 20,2018
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Gee whilakers, Dan. Keep that stuff in Florida. Please. Actually, there is some of it here in Virginia, but fortunately not nearly as much as you have. The DNR people here say not to cut it because--they say--that simply causes it to spread.
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Nickens, Dan - Aug 20,2018
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Yes, keeping it from spreading is a real issue, Don. I've had to change my habits. Instead of just bouncing around from my lake to another, I now fly to an airport so I can pull off any weeds I captured during takeoff. It's a bit of a diversion, but I rationalize (sour grapes) about the need to remain tail wheel current.
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Don Maxwell - Aug 20,2018
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Hmm. Could you do a three-pointer on PA's ramp? (Yes, I know that would be senseless... )
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