• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

  • Who We Are
    • Why Join
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • TSCRA Partners
    • FAQs
    • Newsroom
    • Sponsorships
    • Employment
  • What We Do
    • Theft and Law
    • Issues and Policy
    • Education
    • Young Cattle Raisers
    • The Cattleman Magazine
    • Disaster Relief Fund
    • Cattle Raisers Insurance
    • Cattle Raisers Trading Co
  • Events
    • Cattle Raisers Convention
    • Summer Meeting
    • Policy Conference
    • Ranch Gatherings
    • Ranching 101
  • Member Center
    • Join
    • Renew
    • Instructions
  • TSCRA Store
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Record funding from Texas Legislature fuels giant salvinia awareness effort

giantsalvinia-header
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Bolstered by a record from the Texas Legislature, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, river authorities and other partners are stepping up the war against aquatic invasive species, including one of the most noxious pests—giant salvinia.
With the busy summer boating season getting underway, a major public awareness campaign is calling for boaters to help stop the spread of this destructive invader, which can severely limit fishing, swimming and boating access and displace native beneficial plants that are used as habitat by fish.
Giant salvinia, a non-native plant first found in Texas in 1997, is a free-floating fern that can double in size in just a few days and can form mats up to three feet thick. It can take over an entire lake cove in a matter of weeks, choking out all aquatic life below its thick mats and making boating, swimming or fishing impossible.
Once giant salvinia becomes established in a lake, it is nearly impossible to completely remove, though Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff have been successful in eradicating giant salvinia in some lakes when it was spotted early and confined to the area immediately around a boat ramp.
This summer’s awareness campaign reminds boaters to “Clean, Drain and Dry” their boats, trailers, and gear before traveling from one lake or river to another, since boats are the main way aquatic invasive species like giant salvinia are spread. Although the emphasis is on encouraging people to do the right thing voluntarily, it is illegal to possess or transport any exotic aquatic plant or animal listed as harmful or potentially harmful, with possible fines of $25-$500.
The giant salvinia awareness campaign is funded primarily with state dollars, with additional contributions from the Sabine River Authority and Brazos River Authority. The “Clean, Drain, Dry” campaign includes targeted online and radio ads, billboards, gas station advertising, and emails. (see below) The campaign also includes humorous videos starring the “Lake Dudes,” animated characters designed to engage boaters and encourage social media sharing.
This is the first time since 2011 that TPWD has been able to fund a giant salvinia awareness campaign, made possible through a record funding increase in state dollars to manage aquatic invasive species. In 2015, the Texas Legislative appropriated $6.6 million to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the 2016-2017 biennium to address statewide management of aquatic invasive species, an increase from $1.1 million in the previous two-year funding cycle. The salvinia campaign is part of a broader, statewide effort that uses the increased funding to control giant salvinia and other aquatic invasive species.
The public can learn more about giant salvinia at http://texasinvasives.org/giantsalvinia.

Written by:
kristin
Published on:
June 28, 2016

Categories: General

Recent Posts

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association representatives appointed to Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board

January 27, 2023

Jan. 27, 2023 The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of Texas & …

Continue Reading about Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association representatives appointed to Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board

Texas direct hay report for Jan. 27

January 27, 2023

Compared to the last report: Hay prices remain firm in all regions. Hay demand is very good across …

Continue Reading about Texas direct hay report for Jan. 27

Texas, Oklahoma weekly livestock auction summaries for Jan. 27

January 27, 2023

Texas Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady on limited comparable …

Continue Reading about Texas, Oklahoma weekly livestock auction summaries for Jan. 27

Footer

Who We Are

Why Join
Leadership
Staff
TSCRA Partners
FAQs
Newsroom
Sponsorships
Employment

What We Do

Theft and Law
Issues and Policy
Education
Young Cattle Raisers
The Cattleman Magazine
Cattle Raisers Insurance
Cattle Raisers Trading Co.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Information

Cattle Raisers Blog
News Releases
Bereavements
Events
Media Kit
Tip Hotline
Get Involved
Links

Membership

Membership Center
Membership Center Instructions
Join
Renew
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

PO BOX 101988
FORT WORTH, TX 76185

1-800-242-7820

© 2023 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; All Rights Reserved.

COPYRIGHT | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE