Giant Salvinia, Salvinia molesta, a non-native extremely invasive plant continues to spread. This problematic plant was first discovered in Houston approximately 18 months ago. Since its original identification, the plant has been documented in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii, Florida, Oklahoma, and most recently California. The most severe infestation in the United States was recently discovered in Liberty County, Texas where an estimated 1000 acres of waterfowl habitat has been heavily impacted and degraded. Giant Salvinia has been called the world's worst weed and possesses the capability of doubling it's surface area in 5 days and thus overwhelming aquatic ecosystems. Sites subject to infestation include open-water systems, wetlands, irrigation canals, floodwater drainage canals, cooling ponds, water intake systems and rice fields. Impacts to wildlife habitat, as well as agriculture, recreation, industrial and commercial interests can be expected. DOI holds 182,000 acres in the refuge system in southeast Texas and another 86,000 in the Big Thicket National Preserve. DOA has National Forest lands and the Army Corps of Engineers operate several reservoirs. All of these lands are open for infestation of Giant Salvinia.

A National task forced convened in Houston during November, 1998. The group agreed to approach the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to try to acquire emergency funding to attack this invader. It was anticipated that monies could become available to investigate methodologies for control that would include chemical, biological, as well as public education.

The DOA, Southeast Region has begun the environmental review process and a Sec 7 consultation has been completed. A site in Liberty County, Texas was chosen and an experimental release of the biological control agent was done. Apparently DOA has determined that this plant is not enough of a threat to agriculture to warrant emergency funding. It may be that DOA may be more willing to take action if others such as Interior and Defense were willing to share the burden. We believe this to be important, particularly in light of the National Strategy for Invasive Plant Management and the President's Executive Order 13112 on Invasive Species. National coordination needs to occur and actions need to be taken if a potential disaster is to be averted. The possible consequences to trust resources are such that the Department of Interior should be prepared to act alone and quickly, if necessary.