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3 <br />Department of Environment, <br />Agriculture, Darks & Recreation <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Frank Clifton, County Manager <br />Michael Talbert, Assistant County Manager <br />Dave Stancil, DEAPR Director <br />FROM: Tom Davis, Water Resources Coordinator <br />DATE: May 7, 2012 <br />RE: Emerging Water Resource Issue: Hydrilla in the Eno River <br />Recently I attended a meeting concerning the status of Hydrilla verticcilata in the <br />Eno River. Hydrilla is a fast - growing, perennial, invasive non - native aquatic plant <br />that was reportedly originally brought into the US in the 1950s as an aquarium <br />plant. Since that time, this plant has spread rapidly in the southeastern US and is <br />now on the US Federal Noxious Weed List and is listed as a Class A noxious weed <br />in North Carolina, meaning it is illegal to import, culture, transport or sell it in the <br />state. <br />According to some experts, hydrilla is the #1 aquatic weed in the US. Hydrilla is a <br />highly adaptable plant that can grow in extremely low light and can reproduce <br />through any of four different methods; via fragmentation, tubers, turions (dormant <br />buds) or seeds. This adaptability has led some to call hydrilla "the perfect aquatic <br />plant ". In addition, waterfowl, boats and humans are also likely responsible for <br />aiding the spread of this plant. Two publications providing more details concerning <br />hydrilla are attached. <br />Hydrilla in the Eno River <br />Typically, hydrilla is present in lakes. It has been found in the recent past in the <br />West Fork of the Eno River Reservoir as well as in Lake Orange. However, <br />according to researchers from NC State University, NCDENR Division of Water <br />Resources (DWR) personnel, and the staff of the Eno River State Park (ERSP), <br />hydrilla is also present throughout the upper Eno River to a point at least 1.2 miles <br />east (downstream) of US 15 -501 in Durham County. It is likely that hydrilla is now <br />present throughout the Eno River in Orange County. The extent of hydrilla in <br />Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation <br />PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Phone: (919) 245 -2510 Fax: (919) 644 -3351 <br />