Invasive Plant Species Control
Some of the invasive exotic plants known to occur in the wetland habitats on the refuge include alligatorweed ( Alternanthera philoxeroides), parrotfeather ( Myriophyllum aquaticum), purple loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria), Paspalum spp., and Sesbania spp. Currently, only a few species are creating significant problems on the refuge, but the potential exists for others to become major problems. Control of these species can be extremely difficult. In many cases, control will only be temporary due to the extremely invasive nature of these pests. Even if species are controlled on the refuge, they can easily be re-introduced from adjacent river system during flood events. The refuge staff has not conducted a complete inventory of all known species and their locations within the refuge boundaries. Monitoring has been limited to the intensively managed wetland habitats.
