A working group, Rescatemos la Presa Allende, has formed to confront the rapidly growing infestation of Water Hyacinth (Lirio Acuatico) in the Presa Allende.
Water Hyacinth is a free-floating aquatic plant that can double in mass every 5- 15 days depending upon air temperature and the amount of nutrients in the water. Recognized as one of the world’s most invasive plants, biologists have estimated that as much as 30 and 40 percent of the Presa is currently covered by the Hyacinth.
From a distance it looks like a field of green, but the effects are devastating.
Water Hyacinth infestations can greatly reduce oxygen levels in the water by blocking sunlight and the transfer of oxygen from the air to the water. Without oxygen aquatic life such as invertebrates, fish and native plants will die, which then impacts the food supply for aquatic birds, and weakening or even destroying the natural food chains of the ecological system. The livelihoods of local fishermen are also threatened. It is very difficult to row boats through the heavy mats and large concentrations limit the amount of open water where they can set their nets. If the fish die, so does their ability to make a living. Recreational use of the Presa is also severely limited by the Hyacinth growth. And these plants are also a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which are not only annoying, but carry diseases.
The working group, Rescatemos la Presa Allende, was formed by a number of civil organizations including Audubon de Mexico, Amigos de la Presa and Salvemos al Rio Laja and concerned citizens, who saw the need to organize this massive community-driven initiative in coordination with efforts led by the Municipality of San Miguel de Allende and its Department of the Environment.
The group is working on a variety of levels: Strategies to ramp up the immediate removal tasks, which are urgently needed as the arrival of warmer temperatures can cause the quantity of water hyacinth to explode, and long-term permanent management solutions. Once controlled, this crisis can turn into an opportunity for improving the water quality of the Presa, selling the Hyacinth as a commodity and/or locally manufacturing products from the hyacinth such as compost or any number of uses.
The first step is getting the Water Hyacinth under control by removing it from the water and moving it away from the Presa.
Efforts Underway/Community Help Needed
At this time, the City is testing an extraction machine, which is very expensive and expensive to operate, but it could prove to make the work easier and faster, but it will not be enough. Volunteers are needed to assist in the hand-removal and funds are needed for motors for fishing boats and nets to ease the removal process and to hire large trucks for hauling the plant materials to another location to serve as compost.
Become Informed/Join in the Effort
The urgency of this situation requires the full cooperation and response of our community to overcome this serious crisis that is affecting the livelihoods of local fishermen, bird and aquatic life and the recreational enjoyment of the Presa Allende.
To keep informed of the situation and the efforts to control the Lirio/Water Hyacinth, you can join their mailing list. Send an email to liriopresaallende@gmail.com. They are also seeking volunteers to address such tasks as communications, fundraising, project management, volunteer coordination and research and investigation and encourage your involvement.
For more information about Water Hyacinth and the threats and opportunities it presents you can watch the Yo Soy San Miguel Water Hyacinth forum which took place on Thursday, March 10th.
Background
Water hyacinth has long been in the Rio Laja. It is an introduced plant used Twenty years ago there was a small infestation in the Presa Allende that was controlled by the fishermen removing it by hand and, by some accounts, through the use of harmful chemicals. It is thought that the seeds from this early infestation settled to the bottom of the Presa and were revealed during the recent period when the water level in the Presa declined to historic low-level conditions.
Then came the summer of 2021 storms, which created the perfect conditions for the germination of the seeds. As the water continued to rise, the Hyacinth began to rapidly grow and divide, gaining their energy from the sun and the nutrients (primarily wastewater and fertilizers). Below the water surface, the Hyacinth’s roots become entangled to form large mats. Above the water the plant’s cup-shaped leaves catch the wind allowing these mats to move swiftly across the surface of the water. The combination of this movement and the density and weight of the mats makes the job of removing the Water Hyacinth very difficult.
Add new comment