Hydrilla Now Covers 30 Percent of Lake Austin | The Locally Times
The invasive plant's coverage increased six-fold since June 2025. In response, the city introduced nearly 2,000 sterile grass carp five months later.
This represents a six-fold increase from the less than 5% coverage observed in June 2025. The department's notice states the rapid growth occurred over nine months. While the document identifies hydrilla as an invasive species, city records do not specify which areas of the lake are most affected, the total acreage of the infestation, or what environmental factors contributed to the growth. The stocking rate was calculated at five grass carp per acre of hydrilla. However, public records do not specify the total cost of the carp or detail the decision-making process that led to selecting this strategy over other options. ## Key Questions Unanswered Despite Public Meeting The city held a public meeting on the issue on November 18, 2025, prior to introducing the carp. While the department’s website provides a recording and presentation from the meeting, the March 25 notice does not summarize resident concerns or long-term plans discussed. Furthermore, public records do not account for the five-month period between June 2025 and November 2025, omitting details on any monitoring or analysis that occurred. The documents also lack projections on when the carp might reduce hydrilla levels or what budget is allocated for future management of the lake's ecosystem.