Invasive Species

Zoom+ Water hyacinths form floating mats in spring waters that can clog waterways and harm water quality. © Tom Scott, Florida Geological Survey

Invasive plant species like hydrilla and water lettuce are choking many springs and spring runs. Hydrilla is a major problem in some springs growing rapidly and replacing native eelgrass and eliminating the open areas of the spring. Spirogyra and Lyngbya, native but potentially troublesome algae, grows quickly in response to the elevated nitrate levels, forming mats that smother the native aquatic vegetation on the spring floor. Control of these invasive species requires labor-intensive manual removal in some cases.