Exotic plant invades local lake

Griffy Lake, located about a mile north of IU, offers many activities for IU students and Bloomington residents. At Griffy, people can fish, row or hike in the surrounding forests.\nUnfortunately, some of the activities which are possible at Griffy might change because of a dangerous spreading plant life. Brazilian elodea was introduced to Griffy, and is quickly spreading to all parts of the lake. \n"Our first notice of Brazilian elodea in Griffy came from a 2003 report that a researcher did about the lake's plant life. The researcher documented all of the plant life found in Griffy, and Brazilian elodea was one of the several that were listed," said Steve Cotter, the natural resource manager for the Parks and Recreation Department. \nBrazilian elodea, also known as Anacharis, is a fast-growing water plant that can reproduce by itself. The water plant is originally from South America, and was first reported in America in 1893. The plant is popular in aquariums and can be found for sale in most pet shops, which sell the plant for aquariums because of its beauty. The problem with Brazilian elodea starts when it is introduced into a lake or pond. \nIt can spread up to 100 acres per year. \n"The most common way for Brazilian elodea to be introduced to a lake is by someone illegally dumping their aquarium," said Cotter. \nThe characteristics that make Brazilian elodea a good aquarium plant also make it a major nuisance once it is out of its natural habitat. After being introduced to a lake, the Brazilian elodea forms dense stand that restricts water movement, traps sediment and causes fluctuations in water quality. \n"Too much wild plant life can cause serious damage to the aquatic life that is in Griffy Lake," Cotter said. "Unfortunately, Brazilian elodea spreads so fast that it is like putting a blanket over the lake. The Brazilian elodea will shade out other plant life, causing them to die, and the plant is so thick that fish can become caught within."\nAquatic life isn't all that's in danger at Griffy Lake. With the spread of the Brazilian elodea, boating is another activity which will become affected. There is no motor boating allowed at Griffy Lake, however rowing and small electrical motor boats are allowed. \n"When Brazilian elodea grows, it makes a thick mat on the lake's surface. This will make it extremely difficult for people to maneuver boats on Griffy," said Julie Ramey, the community relations manager for Parks and Recreation. \nEven if they do manage to navigate an infested lake, boaters can spread the plant to other lakes by taking their boat elsewhere after boating in Griffy.\nThe Parks and Recreation Department and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources are working together to create a solution. Through grants from the DNR, the city of Bloomington hired Aquatic Control, Inc. from Seymour, Ind. The company has been conducting aquatic surveys to develop a management plan for control of the Brazilian elodea. \nThe panel discussed an Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan for Griffy Lake to Bloomington's Park and Recreation Department, Monday. \n"Griffy Lake is the first lake in Indiana, and the most northern lake of the Midwest, to have reports of Brazilian elodea," Ramey said. "We hope to educate people about preventing the spread of this plant."\nSenior Rich Dutka is a regular visitor of Griffy Lake during the summer months. \n"I like to go fishing in the summer and for the past three years, I would travel to Griffy almost twice a week," Dutka said. \nHe said he hopes that there will be a cure to the Brazilian elodea. Dutka plans to continue fishing at Griffy Lake as long as the fish keep biting. \n"Griffy is a great lake to go fishing and relax; and it would really suck to let the lake go bad," Dutka said. "There are a lot people, including my friends, that I have seen fishing and boating on Griffy, and to let this fungus take over the lake would be a horrible disappointment."\n-- Contact staff writer Nick \nPittman at npittman@indiana.edu.