After nine working days of state and city efforts to clear the waterweed Salvinia molesta from the surface of Lake Wilson, there's hope. Things are looking up
in effort to clean lakeEnough waterweeds have been removed
to give Lake Wilson's fish a chance to liveBy Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.comTests of the water since the work began have shown a rise in dissolved oxygen levels, said Bill Devick, administrator of the state Division of Aquatic Resources.
Dissolved oxygen in the water is a key factor in keeping the lake's 500 tons of fish alive, Devick said.
City and state workers are working overtime today to continue scooping salvinia out of the lake at the city site by Funston Gate.
Twelve Hawaii National Guard workers, three dump trucks and one or two front-end loaders are scheduled to begin helping at the state salvinia-removal site next weekend, said Col. Vern Miyagi. The workers will transport salvinia that has been removed from the lake and dried to fallow Dole Hawaii pineapple fields, he said.
National Guard members also will be helping Army and Marine Corps troops when they begin working at a third weed-removal site. Meanwhile, state Department of Agriculture workers are spraying the plant with an herbicide.
State Adjutant General Robert Lee said the National Guard will help with the efforts "until we get rid of the weed."
Current efforts by city, state and federal government workers to remove the fast-growing weed from the lake began Feb. 18.
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
A load of Salvinia molesta scooped from Lake Wilson was dumped into a waiting truck Wednesday. State and city workers continue efforts to clear the lake of the invasive waterweed.
