City of Orlando to treat Lake Silver’s invasive plants

Lake Silver has seen several issues with invasive plants including filamentous algae, water hyacinths, and hydrilla.

The city’s Streets and Stormwater Division has administered numerous treatments of herbicides over the past few months, but these the invasive plants have still remained. Currently, Lake Silver has healthy populations of Eelgrass (Vallisneria americana), Pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis), and Baby’s Tears (Micranthemum species). These native plant species help reduce the nutrient levels in the water body and improve water quality. To assist with control of the algae and invasive vegetation, the city’s Streets and Stormwater Division will continue to intermittently administer herbicide treatments.

In addition, the city will also be adding grass carp within the next month to help combat these invasive plants from further spreading.

It is not uncommon for stormwater ponds or lakes to develop large floating mats of algae during the warmer months of the year in response to excess nutrients from fertilizers, yard debris, and pet waste. The city is currently working on a variety of ways to reduce the excess nutrient levels in Lake Silver.

To learn more about what you can do to help prevent stormwater pollution that causes these large amounts of algae to grow, please visit Orlando.gov/stormwater. By learning how to fertilize responsibly, maintaining aquatic plants along the shoreline, bagging yard debris instead of blowing it into our streets, and picking up pet waste, you can help to improve the water quality of Lake Silver.