BTF | Trailblazer R C & D

BTF News!

Discolored fish were discussed at the March 21 BTF meeting.

LDWF replied: The fish in the lake are safe for consumption.

500 – 700 acres of GS on the lake.

Bistineau is #8 on the LDWF priority list.

There are currently no plans for a drawdown.

The next scheduled meeting will be May 16, 2013.

Trailblazer R C & D was instrumental in the establishment of the

In 2009, the Bistineau Task Force was created by the Bienville, Bossier, and Webster Parish Police Juries in response to public outcries over the spread of Giant Salvinia in Lake Bistineau. In cooperation with the Trailblazer Rural Development Institute and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), BTF stakeholders have worked to restore and preserve the water quality and habitats of the entire Lake Bistineau area. Actions include the coordination of restoration activities, education, advocacy, and citizen action. The BTF is working with all stakeholders for the benefit of future generations.

BTF’s Battle with

Giant Salvinia

History: A 1995 outbreak in South Carolina was the earliest U.S. record of Salvinia molesta outside of cultivation.

The distribution and spread of Salvinia molesta (giant salvinia) has progressed from independent introductions across the southern United States.

Salvinia molesta was discovered on Lake Bistineau in February of 2006.

In 2009, Salvinia molesta covered up to 8,000 of Lake Bistineau’s 17,000 acres.

A Few Facts About Giant Salvinia: Salvinia molesta, commonly known as Giant Salvinia , is an aquatic fern, native to southeastern Brazil.It is a free floating plant that does not attach to the soil, but instead remains buoyant on the surface of a body of water.Salvinia molesta reproduces by asexual reproduction only, but it is capable of growing extremely quickly, starting from small fragments and doubling in dry weight every 2.2 to 2.5 days.It grows from fragments that have broken off or dormant buds that have been detached from the main plant; Each node has five
buds, so potential for great and rapid spread is high.[/one_third]

What’s happening

More than forty local officials and stakeholders attended the October 22, 2012 Donation Ceremony for the new air boat and UTV, which was held at the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Office (LDWF) in Minden. Read more about it in the November issue of Trailblazer News, found in our Media Center on the Home page.

How you can help; The BTF can use your help! We depend on donations to make our goals for the Lake Bistineau area a reality. Donations have made it possible for the BTF to recently donate an airboat and a UTV to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Help us to do even more for our communities!; Checks (made out to Trailblazer R C & D, with a BTF Action Plan notation) can be mailed to:; Trailblazer R C & D; 302 Reynolds Drive; Ruston, LA 71270.; All donors will receive an acknowledgement letter.

BTF News!

Discolored fish were discussed at the March 21 BTF meeting.

LDWF replied: The fish in the lake are safe for consumption.

500 – 700 acres of GS on the lake.

Bistineau is #8 on the LDWF priority list.

There are currently no plans for a drawdown.

The next scheduled meeting will be May 16, 2013.

Trailblazer R C & D was instrumental in the establishment of the

BTF’s Battle with

Giant Salvinia

What’s happening

How you can help

For a copy of the Aquatic Weed Identification sheet, click here.

BTF Records Archive

Meeting Minutes:

September 30, 2010 Minutes

Agendas:

Other BTF Documents: