Last Tuesday I was fishing on Lake Brownwood, just south of the Wild Duck Marina, and noticed lots of Saltcedar growing along the shore line.
Saltcedar is one of the most invasive, hard-to-control woody plants in the world. This plant rapidly spreads along rivers, lakes and streams. Once established, it quickly chokes out desirable vegetation. Most important, saltcedar can draw water from underground aquifers- as much as 200 gallons per plant per day.
The hundreds of plants I saw were right at the water’s edge so they are getting the lake water. So let’s see, 300 plants x 200 gals is 60,000 gals of water a day, or 1.8 million gals per month! Wonder why the lake is going down? Lake Ivie is infested with saltcedar and is 50 feet low. The plants are in full pink bloom right now and the leaves look like a pale green cedar, hence the name.Before they get too large spray them with one part Remedy (available at Tractor Supply) and 3 parts diesel fuel on the stem up to 12 inches from the ground. Anybody needing help with their shoreline, please call me.
-Russ Porter, Brookesmith, TX
325-643-2700