Giant Salvinia Salvinia molesta

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Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)

• Early October 2003

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Synopsis of the Spread of Giant Salvinia in the
Lower Colorado River

• Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is a highly
  invasive aquatic plant that comes from Brazil
• Originally infested waters in the United States
  located in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas
• First found in the Lower Colorado River area in
  August of 1998 in Palo Verde Irrigation
  Districts drainage system. Mechanism by which
  PVIDs drainage system became infested is
  unknown.
• Salvinia molesta quickly spread through over 20
  miles of PVIDs drainage system by the end of
  1999.
• Salvinia molesta began to enter the Colorado
  River from PVIDs drainage system in 1999.
• Recognition that this plant can quickly multiply
  and become a major problem resulted in the
  formulation of a Steering Committee and the
  development of several teams to address the
  problem in late 1999.
• Problems that Salvinia molesta can cause include
  damaging the environment by invading backwaters,
  damaging fisheries, inhibiting recreation
  including boating and swimming, impeding river
  operations and maintenance, and impeding
  operation and maintenance of Irrigation District
  Canals and Drains.
• Currently Salvinia molesta has spread from PVIDs
  drainage system downstream to Walters Camp, the
  Cibola Wildlife Refuge, Squaw Lake, Imperial Dam,
  Senator Wash, the All American Canal, the Gila
  Gravity Main Canal, Morelos Dam and Mexicos
  Irrigation and Drainage systems located in the
  Mexicali Valley.

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Steering Committee

• Purpose
• Provide oversight in development of goals,
  objectives and procedures to control Salvinia
  Molesta in the Lower Colorado River
• Coordinate activities with appropriate local,
  state and federal agencies
• Develop teams to accomplish specific goals and
  objectives
• Membership
• Chairman Bob Pitman (USFWLS)
• Co-Chairman Robert Jolley (USBR)
• Secretary Theresa Olson (USBR)
• Team Leaders
• Team Members

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Activities Taken To Control Salvinia Molesta

• The Steering Committee has implemented several
  actions to control the spread of Salvinia molesta
  which will be described later by members of the
  various agencies involved in these activities.

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Description of Teams

• Financial Issue Team Obtain funding,
  personnel, equipment, and supplies to accomplish
  goals and objectives
• Regulatory and Compliance Issue Team Ensures
  legal requirements for accomplishing goals and
  objectives are met. Obtain necessary permits to
  perform work in the field.
• Implementation/Action Team Carry out field
  activities required to achieve goals and
  objectives.
• Work has included the following
• Performing surveys to determine where Salvinia is
  located,
• Spraying Salvinia with approved herbicides along
  the river and in PVIDs drains,
• Mechanical removal of Salvinia along the river
  and in PVIDs drains
• Installation of containment booms
• Release of Australian Weevil
• Monitoring Team Water and sediment sampling and
  analysis to determine if use of specific
  herbicides are safe for the environment ,
  wildlife, and people.

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Description of Teams (Cont)

• International Issue Team Help control and
  reduce spread of Salvinia within Mexico. Work
  includes coordination with Mexico in the
  development of a plan of action, dissemination of
  information about Salvinia, and periodic surveys
  to determine locations of Salvinia in Mexico.
• Research Issue Team Investigates techniques
  that can be used to control Salvinia including
  use of various types of herbicides, biological
  control methods, and mechanical control methods.
• Outreach Issue Team Disseminates information
  about Salvinia to other agencies and the general
  public. Mediums used have been pamphlets,
  newspaper articles, radio broadcasts,
  presentations at conferences, and posting of
  signs at boat ramps.
• Rapid Response Issue Team Focus on discovery of
  Salvinia in new locations, provides information
  to key members of the Steering Committee so that
  a plan can be formulated to contain the newly
  discovered infestation if possible.

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Agencies Participating In The Control of Salvinia
Molesta In The Lower Colorado River

• Federal Agencies
• Bureau of Reclamation
• Bureau of Land Management
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• International Boundary and Water Commission
  United States and Mexican Sections
• United States Department of Agriculture (APHIS)
• California Agencies
• Palo Verde Irrigation District
• California Department of Fish and Game
• California Department of Food and Agriculture
• Imperial County Agricultural Commissioners
  Office
• Riverside County Agricultural Commissioners
  Office
• Arizona Agencies
• Arizona Department of Game and Fish
• Arizona Department of Agriculture
• University of Arizona

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Salvinia molesta
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Salvinia molestas Root System
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Close Up of the Salvinia molestas Leaf Structure
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Weevil Known as Cyrtobagous salviniae
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Heavy Infestation of Salvinia molesta in Lake
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Salvinia molestain the PVID Drain
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Salvinia molestain the PVID Drain
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Salvinia molesta in PVID Drain
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PVID Drain Cleared ofSalvinia molesta
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Salvinia molesta Upstream of the Gila Gravity
Main Canal Headworks
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Salvinia molesta Upstream of the Gila Gravity
Main Canal Headworks
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Salvinia molesta Collected on the All American
Canal Trash Rack
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Salvinia molesta Along the Squaw Lake Shore Line
and Swim Area
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Salvinia molesta on Squaw Lake Boat Ramp
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Salvinia molesta in Squaw Lake
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Salvinia molesta in the Squaw Lake Shore Line and
Swim Area
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Salvinia molesta in the Senator Wash Fore bay
Area of the Pumping Plant
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Salvinia molesta in the East Squaw Lake Shore
Line Area
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Salvinia molesta in the Senator Wash Forebay Area
Pumping Plant Trash Rack