Cuban bulrush (Oxycaryum cubense) was identified as a major invasives species in 2022 on Lake Seminole. Explosive growth after hurricane Michael has consumed thousands of acres restricting recreational use and habitat loss for fish and wildlife. The Cuban Bulrush Task Force was formed in early 2023 by the Stewards of Lake Seminole with the USACE and Georgia DNR. With Emergency Funding from the State of Georgia and support from the USACE the Team began attacking this problem. The 2023 activities and results can be seen in the previous drop down (Cuban Bulrush Task Force 2023).
Spring Creek was one of the major targets for action because of the masses of vegetation breaking loose and spreading down the creek. Treatment results were very successful. In 2024, Two hundred (200) acres in upper Spring Creek were again treated by both helicopter and air boat. The effectiveness of the 2023 treatment is clearly visible as areas treated continue to be open in 2024. Multiple treatments are required for complete eradication to stop new growth caused by remaining seeds and rhizomes.
Treatment of Spring Creek has been very effective in minimizing the sloughing off of invasives during high water and flows and the spreading downstream and the restoring of hundreds of acres of open water for recreation.
This picture shows Cuban bulrush and water hyacinths floating down the Flint River in late February of 2024 spreading to other areas of Lake Seminole. Although more than 40 miles were treated on the Flint River after this, there are still thousands of acres estimated that still need to be treated. The browning shoreline shows the Cuban bulrush and other invasives dying shortly after treatment.
The Corps of Engineers paid for an aerial survey of the lake this summer to identify the total acreage that is infested with aquatic invasives. Those results will be available shortly.
In 2024 a combined total of over eighty (80) miles of shoreline were treated in Spring Creek, Fairchilds Slough, Chattahoochee River, Flint River and numerous residential areas to stop the spread of Cuban bulrush. Total treatment area was over 500 acres in 2024. Water hyacinths and water primrose mixed in with the Cuban bulrush were also treated. This picture shows dying invasives on the Chattahoochee River 3 days after treatment.
The Corps of Engineers paid for an aerial survey of the lake this summer to identify the total acreage that is infested with aquatic invasives. Those results will be available shortly. Priorities will be set for 2025 based on funding and most effective treatment methods.
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