Austin Deploys 1,950 Carp as Hydrilla Covers 30% of Lake | The Locally Times
Austin Deploys 1,950 Carp as Hydrilla Covers 30% of Lake
## Hydrilla Coverage Spikes Six-Fold in Five Months Coverage of hydrilla, a nonnative invasive plant, in Lake Austin expanded six-fold over five months, growing from less than 5% in June 2025 to approximately 30% by November. The proliferation prompted an intervention from Austin Watershed Protection, according to a March 25, 2026, public notice. ## City Releases 1,950 Sterile Carp as Control Method In response, Austin Watershed Protection released approximately 1,950 sterile grass carp into Lake Austin during November 2025. The fish serve as a biological control intended to consume the invasive plant. The department’s announcement notes the carp are sterile and cannot reproduce, a measure to prevent a new ecological problem. The deployment was calculated to achieve a density of five grass carp per acre of hydrilla, targeting 390 acres of the plant. Public records from the department do not specify the exact date in November the fish were released. ## Costs and Long-Term Plan Not Specified in Public Record Prior to the deployment, Austin Watershed Protection held a public meeting on November 18, 2025. While a video recording and staff presentation from the meeting are available online, the department's March 25 notice does not summarize resident feedback or specific outcomes from the event. Furthermore, public records do not specify the financial details of the intervention, including the total cost for the 1,950 carp or the funding source. The department’s announcement also omits a long-term plan for monitoring the carp's effectiveness and their broader impact on the Lake Austin ecosystem.