How do I get rid of water hyacinth from my dam?

Question

Tried pulling it out manually but too difficult.
Don't want to use sprays if possible
Tried making a net to pull it out with the tractor. Didn't work.
There is an insect I can get but don't know where to get it from.
Is there another competing water lily I could plant in the dam?
Any suggetion greatly received.

Answer 1

To answer the question since they are
free-floating, robust plant grows up to three feet off the water's surface. I can't understand why you would have difficulty pulling them out. Below is a link that might help you solve the problem.
http://www.iisgcp.org/EXOTICSP/water_hyacinth.htm
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Below is a link to email for information.
These people really know their stuff.

http://www.kieto.com/pond/about_us.htm
http://www.kieto.com/pond/contact.htm
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You have a dam but you don't say if you have a pond or lake. I would imagine that goes with it. Koi love to eat the roots on the water hyacinth.
Apparently you live in a warm climate . So they don't die out in winter. Let me tell you....you could make some money in areas where they have freezing weather. We have to replace them yearly, at $6.95 per small plant.
then you have to worry about the fish eating them to the point where they die. Have you thought of contacting a nursery and selling the runners?
Maybe you need to re think the problem and make money.
Good Luck!

Answer 2

Hi and you are a potential Millionaire!
First, Water Hyacinth are a premium crop in New England in water gardens. They are beautiful and they do not over winter here, so Idiot water gardeners spend fortunes every year to replace the plant in their water gardens.
Consider an on line business of that kind before destruction.
Man you could be rich!!!!
As far as a destructive insect. In New England we have a problem with Purple Lustrife plant.
The Local New England Universities have found a beetle that invades and destroys the Lustrife.
My suggestion is to er-mail the Universities of the states surrounding you and see if some one is testing an insect or a fungus or bacteria that will destroy the plant.
BUT GET RICH FIRST HONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! We folks in Massachusetts are waiting for your problem!
I do know one very prominent garden center. Mahoneys Winchester Ma.
1-781-729-5900 ask for the Barn/ Water Garden Manager
and negotiate a deal! Good luck! and they have 9 locations in Massachusetts!

Answer 3

In Australia we have problems with both Water Hyacinth and feral pigs, The Government wanted to shoot the pigs. But the native population, the Aborigines, were against it as the pigs trample the Hyacinth.