PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN D. MANLEY Crews from Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe have joined efforts to remove Salvinia molesta from the surface of Lake Wilson. Marines Essex Mottley, standing, and Dominic Valderrama, seated, helped Army personnel in cleanup efforts yesterday at Lake Wilson.

Lake Wilson weed
held in check

City, state and military workers
continue to clear the lake's surface

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By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com

The battle with Salvinia molesta in Lake Wilson seems to be turning a corner.

Kaneohe Marines have joined the effort, and more than 90 percent of the lake surface is now visible at Wahiawa State Freshwater Park, caretaker Ben Asuncion said yesterday.

"There's quite a few (plants) yet around the bank," but many of those seem to be yellowing from herbicide applications, he added.

In late February, when removal of the weed was stepped up, many observers said 95 percent of the lake surface was covered with the aquarium fern.

A week ago the state stopped pulling out the weed at Wahiawa State Freshwater Park because the daily collection there was decreasing.

State Department of Land & Natural Resources workers were having to drive boats farther and farther to collect the weed as more of the lake surface was cleared. An excavator brings the weeds on shore where they are dried and trucked to pineapple fields for mulching.

Marines are now teaming with state workers to pull weeds and drag them close to shore where excavators can remove them.

Meanwhile, the city continues to operate a removal site behind the Kemoo by the Lake Condominiums, and the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division is working on the Schofield Barracks side of the lake.

The National Guard continues to assist city and state workers on weekends.