July-August
2002 State Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) discovered
that Salvinia seemed to be multiplying and stepped-up their control
efforts. By November 2002, most of the Salvinia was contained in the
basin area (at the dam and spillway of the Lake) and the City &
County of Honolulu (City) assisted in removal efforts using a
front-end loader and dump trucks.
December 2002 Salvinia within the contained area by the basin and plants located outside of the containment area exploded in growth and took DAR and City crews completely by surprise.
January 2003 Salvinia had covered approximately 90% of the Lake's surface water area (270 acres) and posed the threat of a massive fish kill and a potential public health disaster.
January 31, 2003 Senate President Robert Bunda assembled a multi-agency government task force including legislators, congressional representatives, military services, businesses and concerned members of the community to address the eradication of Salvinia from the Lake. This group is now called the Salvinia "Partners" Working Group.
Early February The Governor designated the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) as the lead agency in addressing the infestation of Salvinia and deemed the infestation at the Lake a state priority.
By February 14, 2003 The Partners Working Group developed a 3-pronged short-term plan to address the immediate removal of Salvinia from the Lake:
Establish
three extraction sites using heavy equipment consisting of an
excavator, front-end loaders and dump trucks with supporting services
(e.g. fueling and water tank trucks, etc.). Two to four boats with
oil booms would be used to round-up the Salvinia and pull it towards
the extraction sites. A two to four person ground crew would also be
needed to secure the oil booms on-shore and to pull the booms toward
the excavator. Initially, the State, City and the Military would
provide their own manpower and resources to outfit their respective
extraction site. Should additional resources become available and if
suitable sites are located, one to two more extraction sites would be
mobilized into operation. Landowners have provided a disposal area
(approximately 30 acres) in their fallow fields and will later mulch
and compost the weed material for use on their planting fields.
Herbicide spraying of Aquamaster will be used to kill and/or retard the growth of Salvinia so that extraction activities can over-take the exponential growth rate of the weed. Aquamaster is an Environmental Protection Agency approved herbicide for use in aquatic environments. No special protective equipment is necessary for spray application, the herbicide is bio-degradable, has a short residual time and becomes inactive upon contact with soil.
Last prong of the short-term plan is to solicit community support and volunteers to clear areas where the main extraction efforts cannot reach (e.g. along the edges of the Lake, between fallen tree branches, areas inaccessible by boats, etc.).
February 15, 2003 DLNR Chairperson Young assigned DLNR's Engineering Division to take the lead in the eradication of Salvinia at the Lake and statewide.
February 18, 2003 The City mobilized and started extraction efforts at Site #1 located in the basin area near the dam and spillway of the Lake.
February
19, 2003 The DLNR closed Wahiawa Freshwater State Park for
public use and this area will be used for the State's extraction
efforts as Site #2-A.
February 25, 2003 The State mobilized heavy equipment into Site #2-A and began extraction efforts the following day.
February 25, 2003 Approval was granted by the General Contractors Association to allow for use of military resources for eradication efforts (exemption for non-competition by private sector resources).
February 20-21, 2003 Department of Agriculture (DOA) conducted test spraying of herbicide.
February 24, 2003 DOA commenced full spraying operations. It is estimated that approximately 14 acres per day can be sprayed with a minimum goal of 50 acres per week weather permitting. Spraying operations anticipated to continue for six weeks.
March 8, 2003 Hawaii Army National Guard provides 2-loaders and 6-dump trucks to assist in eradication efforts.
March 10, 2003 The Army's extraction site # 3 located across from the City's extraction site along the north fork of the lake begins operation. Extraction site # 3 is located approximately 400 yards up-stream of the City's extraction site along the north fork of the Lake.
March 14, 2003 DOA completes initial spraying of Lake's surface area covered with Salvinia estimated to be around 214 acres. Spraying operations completed 3 weeks ahead of initial estimate. DOA to monitor effects of herbicide sprayed areas for the next two weeks.
March
20, 2003 Last day of extraction at State Site #2-A.
Operations at site have become inefficient due to length of time
necessary for boats to boom Salvinia weed to the excavator.
March 21, 2003 Mobilized two excavators to new State Extraction Site #2-B. This site is located on a peninsula in the basin area at the confluence of the North and South Forks of Lake Wilson.
March 24, 2003 U.S. Marine Corps' Waterfront Operations provides two boats with operators to assist in eradication efforts.
March 31, 2003 U.S. Marine Corps' Engineering Company (CSSG-3) provides one loader and one dump truck with operators to assist in eradication efforts.
March 31, 2003 DOA re-commences herbicide spraying along the edges of the Lake.
April 3, 2003 Last day of extraction at Army's Extraction Site #3.
April 4, 2003 Last day of extraction for one excavator at State Extraction Site #2-B. Last day of herbicide spraying along the edges of the Lake by DOA.
ESTIMATED CLEARED SURFACE AREA OF LAKE = 75% OR 225 ACRES
April 11, 2003 Mobilize equipment and clear new Army's Extraction Site #3-B. This site is located on the South Fork of Lake Wilson in the East Range of Schofield Barracks Military Reservation.
April 14, 2003 Received notice from the City that they will cease operations on Saturday, April 19, 2003 and are requesting for $276,000 in reimbursement from the State for removal costs.
April 14, 2003 Army begins to remove large debris (tree stumps and branches, timbers, etc.) from Extraction Site #3-B and will begin extraction activities the following week.
April 14, 2003 Boats begin operations of extracting weed material along the edges and small coves of the Lake.
April 19, 2003 City ceases operations.
ESTIMATED CLEARED SURFACE AREA OF LAKE = 85% OR 255 ACRES
May 6, 2003 - Army concludes bulk extraction at the East Range
ESTIMATED CLEARED SURFACE AREA OF LAKE = 95% OR 285 ACRES
Total amount of weed cleared via bulk extraction sites = 50,000 cubic yards (does not include amounts from followup maintenance by boat crews)
May 24 2003 - Department of Land and Natural Resources reopens the popular state park at Wahiawa Freshwater Recreation Area for public use of shore portions. The park reopening, after nearly 3 months of closure, follows successful completion of intensive bulk extraction activities by City and County, state and federal and military agencies to remove extensive growths of the Salvinia molesta aquatic weed that at one point covered an estimated 95 percent of the lake's 300-acre surface area.
Smaller-scale work daily work continues to eradicate remaining amounts of Salvinia along the lake's 20-mile perimeter.
Freshwater fishing clubs also assisted DLNR with volunteer cleanups of Salvinia at Lake Wilson on:
June 14, 2003 - Wahiawa Public Fishing Area (Lake Wilson reservoir) is reopened to boat fishing. Division of Aquatic Resources posts a sign at the boat launch ramp asking fishermen to kokua and assist in the removal of Salvinia from reservoir. As part of its necessary maintenance control for Salvinia, the Division of Aquatic Resources will conduct perimeter shoreline spraying with an EPA-approved herbicide on the second and fourth week of each month, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (except holidays) until the end of the year. The boat launch ramp will be closed and chained on the days when spraying will be conducted. The public's understanding and kokua is appreciated.
July 30, 2003 - Due to successful maintenance control spraying for Salvinia, Division of Aquatic Resources reduces boat launch ramp closures to once a month only on the first Tuesday of each month through the end of the year.
August 11, 2004 - More than a year after successfully controlling a crippling infestation, Lake Wilson remains almost completely Salvinia-free. DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources does monthly monitoring of the lake. Presently the only location where a few Salvinia plants still exist is on the South Fork amidst an area of California grass less than one acre in size. This area is completely enclosed by a floating oil boom to prevent any chance of the small plants from escaping, and the California grass which provides cover is being removed with the use of an aquatic harvester.
About
Salvinia molesta
Timeline:
Eradicating Salvinia from Lake
Wilson
DLNR
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