Posted: April 17, 2008

For more information
LaMarriol Smith, (830) 379-5822 or email

SEGUIN- Beginning the week of April 21, 2008, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), in partnership with the Friends of Lake Wood, Lake Wood Park and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, will initiate a vegetation management program to control waterhyacinth in Lake Gonzales (H-4) and Lake Wood (H-5) to help control or remove excessive vegetation and improve navigation on these lakes. The program should be completed by end of May. Portions of each lake may be restricted for a brief period during this program.

The vegetation management program will be a three-prong attack on the invasive plant. Mechanical shredders will be the first tool used to reduce the acres of waterhyacinth on both lakes. After shredding the plants that can be reached, the lakes will be treated with aquatic herbicides. The final control tool will be the deployment of floating booms that will keep the floating plant out of coves and sloughs located in the lower portions of the lakes.

"Weedar 64, whose active ingredient is 2,4-D, is approved for aquatic use by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency," said GBRA director of water quality services Debbie Magin. "It will be used on water- hyacinth infesting Lake Gonzales. Reward, whose active ingredient is glyphosate, will be used on the nuisance plant found in Lake Wood. Only Reward will be used on Lake Wood because of the surface water intake of the Gonzales County Water Supply Corporation that is located near the dam. Reward is approved by the US EPA for use on reservoirs used for drinking water supply. The Gonzales County WSC will suspend pumping from the lake during the herbicide treatment for up to 48 hours and use its alternative water sources".

Weather allowing, the treatment of both lakes should be concluded in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Site-specific use restrictions will be posted in the treatment areas throughout the lake and at the public boat ramps on each lake.

The application of these herbicides complies with policy guidelines adopted by GBRA's Board of Directors governing the treatment of nuisance aquatic vegetation in lakes and reservoirs operated by GBRA. "The policy creates the general framework necessary to manage nuisance aquatic vegetation to protect water access, quality, and public health and safety while balancing the needs of a healthy aquatic ecosystem," said Magin. The treatment proposals have been submitted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and approved, in compliance with the Statewide Vegetation Management Plan.

According to Magin, the TPWD Statewide Vegetation Management Plan requires anyone, including individual homeowners, to submit a treatment proposal to GBRA and TPWD before they can remove any nuisance vegetation from their property or waterfront. This includes removal by mechanical means as well as use of herbicides. "We want the public to understand the requirements of the statewide plan so that they will follow the proper procedures to stay within the law," said Magin.

The treatment program for Lake Gonzales and Lake Wood was developed with the assistance of a committee of residents from area lakes and representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Additional information about the Gonzales area treatments and the Statewide Vegetation Management Plan are available at the GBRA General Office, 933 East Court Street in Seguin. For specific information about the project or the aquatic herbicides, contact Magin at 830/379-5822.

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