LCRA announces 2025 schedule for property owners who want to treat invasive aquatic vegetation
HOA, municipalities and counties eligible for rebates for treatment
FEB. 25, 2024
BURNET AND LLANO COUNTIES, Texas – The Lower Colorado River Authority on Tuesday announced the 2025 schedule for property owners planning to treat nuisance aquatic vegetation on Inks Lake, Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls.
LCRA also has extended a rebate program offering up to 50% of the project cost, to a maximum of $7,500 per applicant, for municipalities, counties and homeowners/property owners associations that manage invasive aquatic vegetation on Inks Lake, Lake LBJ or Lake Marble Falls in 2025.
Treatment zone schedule for Inks Lake, Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls
Property owners can manage nuisance aquatic vegetation such as hydrilla, Eurasian watermilfoil and water hyacinth by mechanical or manual methods at any time or with herbicides during specific time periods based on their location. All treatment proposals must be approved in advance by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and LCRA.
LCRA has divided properties along Inks Lake, Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls into three zones, with each zone having designated periods when herbicide treatments may be applied to aquatic vegetation. Property owners in each zone may treat nuisance vegetation during four time periods between March 24 and Aug. 23 this year. Visit www.lcra.org/waterweeds to view the treatment zones and periods, see approved herbicide ingredients or download a treatment proposal form. The schedule does not allow treatments to be applied near Memorial Day or the Fourth of July.
Limiting treatments in areas to specific times maximizes the efficiency of the treatments and helps nearby property owners have a better understanding of when herbicides may be in the lake in their area.
LCRA manages hydrilla and water hyacinth on the Highland Lakes when the plants have the potential to impact LCRA dam or power plant operations. LCRA does not manage Eurasian watermilfoil and other vegetation that does not pose a threat to LCRA infrastructure operations.
Property owners on lakes Buchanan and Travis may treat vegetation in those lakes at any time, provided TPWD and LCRA have approved the treatment plan. The City of Austin manages Lake Austin. Property owners should contact the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department for information on vegetation management there.
Rebate program
LCRA is offering rebates to municipalities, counties and homeowners/property owners associations of up to 50% of the treatment cost, up to $7,500 per applicant, for managing invasive aquatic vegetation on Inks Lake, Lake LBJ or Lake Marble Falls.
To qualify for a rebate, an applicant must:
- Be a lakeside property owners association, homeowners association, or a governmental entity such as a municipality or county.
- Conduct vegetation management on Inks Lake, Lake LBJ or Lake Marble Falls according to the treatment zone schedule for herbicide treatment, or between March 10 and Aug. 31, 2025, for mechanical or manual removal.
- Use a licensed aquatic herbicide applicator if herbicides are used.
- Submit a treatment proposal to TPWD and LCRA and obtain approval in advance.
- Submit to LCRA an application, itemized receipt of the work and proof of TPWD approval of the treatment plan by Sept.15, 2025.
Rebates will not be provided for management of native plants, such as cabomba, coontail, American pondweed, water stargrass, spatterdock and eelgrass. Native plants provide essential habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms, as well as forage for waterfowl.
Detailed rules and the rebate application are available at www.lcra.org/waterweedsrebate. For additional information, email [email protected].
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.
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