Where is hydrilla found in Mississippi?

Hydrilla is commonly found in the Ross Barnett Reservoir, Pickwick Lake, and numerous natural oxbow lakes along the Mississippi River Delta.

How does hydrilla affect fishing in Mississippi?

It's a double-edged sword. While it provides excellent cover for largemouth bass and crappie, it can grow so dense that it prevents anglers from actually reaching the fishing spots.

Does Mississippi use grass carp?

Yes, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks authorizes the use of sterile (triploid) grass carp for weed control, particularly in enclosed lakes and private ponds.

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Hydrilla in Mississippi: Oxbows and River Basins

Explore how hydrilla impacts Mississippi's unique oxbow lakes, the Ross Barnett Reservoir, and the sprawling backwaters of the Mississippi River.

The Delta Invasion

Mississippi's aquatic landscape is dominated by the sprawling, nutrient-rich backwaters of the Mississippi River basin and a series of highly engineered reservoirs. These warm, shallow waters provide an ideal incubator for the aggressive dioecious strain of Hydrilla verticillata.

Because of the high connectivity of these river systems during seasonal flooding, hydrilla fragments can easily wash downstream into new oxbow lakes and bayous, making statewide eradication impossible.

Key Waterbodies Affected

Ross Barnett Reservoir: A 33,000-acre impoundment of the Pearl River near Jackson. This massive lake requires constant, intensive management using aquatic herbicides to keep boat lanes and marinas free of hydrilla and other invasive plants like water hyacinth.
Pickwick Lake: Shared with Tennessee and Alabama, this famous Tennessee River impoundment sees constant tug-of-wars between state agencies trying to manage the weed and bass anglers who rely on it for tournaments.
Delta Oxbow Lakes: Natural lakes formed by the meandering Mississippi River (like Lake Washington) are highly susceptible to hydrilla. Because these lakes are shallow and nutrient-dense from agricultural runoff, hydrilla can easily top out across the entire surface.

Management Challenges in River Systems

Managing hydrilla in Mississippi is exceptionally challenging because the state relies heavily on river-run impoundments. Using large-scale systemic herbicides (like fluridone) is often impractical in these environments because the chemical washes downstream before it has time to kill the plant.

Instead, state agencies and the US Army Corps of Engineers rely on fast-acting contact herbicides applied by airboats, coupled with mechanical harvesting around critical municipal water intakes and high-traffic recreational areas.

Explore Related Topics

Frequently Asked Questions About Hydrilla in Mississippi: Oxbows and River Basins

References

Information presented on this page is supported by peer-reviewed research, federal agencies, and state resource management programs.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) – Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Databasehttps://nas.er.usgs.gov
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Aquatic Plant Control Research Programhttps://www.erdc.usace.army.mil
NOAA Aquatic Invasive Species Programhttps://www.noaa.gov