Water weed could take hold in South West

Bunbury gardeners are being urged to look out for invasive water weed salvinia after it was reportedly growing in Picton.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s agriculture and food biosecurity officer Glen Coupar said salvinia multiplied quickly and formed a dense mat that covered lakes, slow-moving rivers, dams and other waterways, posing a threat to the environment.

Mr Coupar said the water weed blocked irrigation channels preventing stock from getting access to fresh water from dams, de-oxygenated water, affected native plants and animals in the water and created an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

“Salvinia is a free-floating weed with distinctive egg-beater like structures at the top of each leaf, which makes it easy to identify,” he said.

The department received reports of the weed being sold as pond plants at markets and online and growing on a Picton dam. To identify or report water weeds, use the MyWeedWatcher mobile device app.