Monthly Report ( Thematic Report) - Problem and Solving Water Hyacinth Infestation in Lake - Ambassador report - Our Actions

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Monthly Report ( Thematic Report) - Problem and Solving Water Hyacinth Infestation in Lake
by Sagar Koirala \| 18-07-2020 23:03 0
Phewa Lake is one of the most popular lake of Nepal. It is the second largest lake of Nepal and only Nepalese lake to have temple at its centre. It is very important from religious, cultural and water resources point of view. Tall concrete buildings around the Phewa Lake have been decreased its beauty to a great extent. People still wash clothes at its bank; by stealing the eyes, hoteliers and restaurants owners don’t mind throwing rubbish into the lake. As a result, the lake is being polluted from all sides. Over the last three decades, regular silt and garbage depositing at the bottom of the lake has reduced its depth considerably. On top, hyacinths have only added more woes to Phewa Lake, making things only bad to worse. These obnoxious weeds do spread rapidly and cover a larger area in no time. Water hyacinth is a free-floating perennial plant that can grow to a height of 3 feet. This highly adamant hyacinth was first seen in Phewa Lake in 1990. Soon after then, it started spreading rapidly, damaging tourism, fishery, and the natural existence of the lake itself. It creates all kinds of problems by clogging waterways and shipping the passages. It thrives on the water surface and spreads far quicker than we can imagine of. It has the capacity to reduce a huge lake into a marsh only if adequate action is not taken in time. Moreover, dead leaves and roots of hyacinths sunk below and deposit there. Phewa Lake has already been reduced to 12 thousand Ropani reducing 0.18sq. km area in every two years. Due to regular silt deposit and hyacinths encroachment, the bank of the lake has turned marsh. Taking the advantage, some unscrupulous local people of the area have started paddy plantation on the encroached land. Little is known about the effects of water hyacinth on water-bird communities; however, increases in macroinvertebrate and fish abundance and diversity suggest a potentially positive interaction with water birds when water hyacinth is at moderate density. There are several popular control mechanisms for preventing the spread of, or eradication of, water hyacinth. Various campaigns and programs are conducted in regular interval to remove weeds from field. The most effective methods so far found to control these plants include draining ponds completely, then removing and chopping up the plant (away from the pond, as even a small can regrow into large one. Chemical control method is the least favored due to the unknown long-term effects on the environment and the communities with which it comes into contact. Physical control, using mechanical mowers, dredgers or manual extraction methods, is used widely but is costly and cannot deal with very large infestations. It is not suitable for large infestations and is generally regarded as a short-term solution. Mechanical removal of water hyacinth is seen as the best short-term solution to the proliferation of the plant. However, for such large area it might be difficult to achieve target. Biological control is the most widely favored long-term control method, being relatively easy to use, and arguably providing the only economic and sustainable control. Several Insects and fungi has been identified as a control agent of water hyacinth. Some varieties of Moth, Weevil and Fungi has been proved to be effective in controlling high incidence of water hyacinth. Water hyacinth has many practical uses. It can be used in making papers, fibre board, ropes, yarn, charcoal briquetting and is also used for water purification and biogas production. We can establish commercial production of such items which will utilize water hyacinth and check its population at regular interval. References: https://bhupendralimbu.com.np/2019/09/29/impacts-of-environmental-change-a-study-of-fewa-lake/ https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/water-plants/water-hyacinth/water-hyacinth-control.htm http://library.uniteddiversity.coop/Water_and_Sanitation/water_hyacinth_control.pdf https://water-hyacinth.com/solution.html https://www.lakerestoration.com/t-water-hyacinth-control.aspx

Dormant user Sagar Koirala

18 Comments

Sagar Koirala says :
Thank You Asmita
Posted 15-08-2020 19:38

Sagar Koirala says :
Thank you Sang Su mentor
Posted 15-08-2020 19:38

Asmita Gaire says :
Greetings Sagar dai
I hope you are doing well
True but bitter reality
Thank you so much for your report.
Keep writing
Green cheers
Regards
Asmita Gaire
Posted 04-08-2020 01:40

Sang Su Mentor says :
Hi Sagar Koirala, this is a mentor, Sang Su Lee.

The growth of Water Hyacinth without control can pose some problems. However, I doubt that whether the problems that this species causes are environmental. Blocking the waterway, for example, is a problem for humans, not the nature. Of course, so much reproduction without control can disturb the ecosystem. If you've focused more on this, it would be better.

I like your solutions. They clearly provide some methods to remove Water Hyacinth safely.

Green cheers~
Posted 25-07-2020 01:33

Sagar Koirala says :
Thank You Taehyun Mentor
Posted 20-07-2020 14:26

Sagar Koirala says :
Thank You Nisikak
Posted 20-07-2020 14:26

Sagar Koirala says :
Thank You Balkrishna Dai
Posted 20-07-2020 14:24

Sagar Koirala says :
Thank You Aarati
Posted 20-07-2020 14:24

Taehyun Mentor says :
Hello Sagar Koirala, this is mentor Taehyun!

Thank you for your article on the discovery and resolution of water hyacinths and environmental problems! So much reproduction of water hyacinths really made sense of what problems the environment had, and how to solve these problems, and the whole time I read it, I understood it very well. However, one question is about the problem of the lake turning into a wetland, and if water hyacinths are native species rather than foreign or other species, it is feared that such manipulation of number of species would go against the natural flow. I hope you think about this further!

Thank you for the report1

Green cheers!
Posted 20-07-2020 03:01

NsikakAbasi Etim Jnr says :
Thank you for sharing this informative piece
Posted 20-07-2020 01:47

Bal krishna Pandey says :
Hello sagar,
This is Bal krishna from Nepal.
Phewa lake is the heart of the tourism sector of pokhara city. Shadow of Mount Fishtail is one of the the most attractive part of it. You have raised such a truth which is degrading the water purity as well as beauty. I remember your program to make the lake clean and you have done great job.
Green cheers~
Posted 20-07-2020 01:28

Aarati Khatri says :
Hello Sagar Dada,
I hope you fine and safe wherever you are.
As I have been to Phewa lake many times, It soo sad to see the degrading condition of this mesmerizing lake due to the invasive species like Water Hyacinth. The lake area has been reduced significantly. I hope the concerned party act quickly to save this heart of Pokhara from further degradation.
Thank you soo much for raising issues through your writting.
Warm Regards.
Posted 19-07-2020 21:43

Sagar Koirala says :
Thank You Sonika
Posted 19-07-2020 18:38

Sagar Koirala says :
Thank You Diana
Posted 19-07-2020 18:38

Sonika Pariyar

Sonika Pariyar says :
Hello Sagar dai!!

I hope you are fine and doing great!

Its very sad to know that Water hyacinth pollution in Phewa lake,hope this problem will be solved soon.

Thanks for sharing!

GREEN CHEERS!

Regards,
Sonika
Posted 19-07-2020 17:28