Water Hyacinth Research Paper

Water hyacinth is a plant species native to South America that has been introduced to some parts of the western United States, and has not ceased to wreak havoc since. The recent droughts in California have not seemed to help the situation, and the aquatic plant is a relentless pest that refuses to yield to any attempts at extermination. The state of California has spent millions of dollars in an effort to eradicate the invasive species, however water hyacinth shows no signs of leaving any time soon. Water hyacinth is a plant that is non-native to California, however it has been appearing in many of Northern California’s freshwater lakes and ponds. The plant floats on the surface of the water, and has thick, fibrous roots below the surface. Violet flowers adorn the plant above the water, however, this plant is even more harmful than it is beautiful. Water hyacinth can form thick, indivisible mats that prevent anything from passing through, including sunlight. The mats can cause oxygen depletion in the water and kill fish (“Water Hyacinth”). According to the article, “Water Hyacinth”, the roots of water hyacinth can provide a habitat for micro/macro invertebrates, however, “Water hyacinth

“A single plant can produce as many as 5,000 seeds and waterfowl eat and transport seeds to new locations” according to the article, “Water Hyacinth (Eichornia Crassipes)”. The combination of dry, warm winters and rapid reproduction has turned the invasion of water hyacinth into an absolute nightmare that seems to have no end. The best way to prevent this situation is to completely avoid the presence of water hyacinth in the first place. Proper disposal of the plant will also help eliminate its presence in the wild. It is suggested that water hyacinth is not disposed of through lakes, rivers, streams, or drains, as a large infestation was discovered by drainage ditch managers (“Water Hyacinth (Eichornia