Editor’s Note: The video above is from KXAN’s newscast on July 14, 2025
AUSTIN (KXAN) 一 In a move to mow down a wave of invasive plants, the city of Austin will release sterile grass carp in Lake Austin later this fall.
Currently around 30% of the lake is covered with hydrilla, which is not native to Lake Austin; the overall vegetation level for the lake is only supposed to be 40% on the high-end. The lake now sees 5% more coverage than was reported in June, according to a Friday news release.
Hydrilla, an aquatic plant native to Asia, first appeared in Lake Austin in 1999. What makes the plant so concerning is that it can grow at a rate of over one inch per day, can cause flooding, choke waterways, make navigation difficult for swimmers and boats.
“Grass carp prefer to eat hydrilla and are the most environmentally responsible tool available to manage the plant,” the release states.
This comes after the city released 350 of the same sterile grass carp into the lake back in July.
The city said releasing five grass carp per acre of hydrilla should reduce the plant’s spread in the lake while limiting the carp’s impact on the water’s naturally growing plant-life. Hydrilla currently occupies 456 acres; at its peak in 2012-2013 it encapsulated nearly a third of the lake 一 that’s over 500 acres.
Despite the city’s efforts, the fight to curb hydrilla has been met with criticism in the past. One Austin fisherman told KXAN in July the extra grass helps with business; smaller fish use hydrilla as a source of both food and habitats.
“Fishing a lake with grass is certainly more productive and more enjoyable,” Carson Conklin with ATX Fishing told KXAN in July.
The city said other methods to put hydrilla in check could prove damaging to species native to the lake.
Some community members have suggested draining part of the lake to fight hydrilla, as the same method was used to fight Eurasian watermilfoil, another invasive plant species found in Lake Austin.
But this solution could have adverse effects on the lake; the city said data suggests the move would only cause hydrilla to grow faster by eliminating other less problematic plant species.
“Our goal is to slow down the growth of hydrilla and reduce its density without having a negative impact on the lake’s environment,” the city said in the release. “The lake is an important resource for our whole community, and we are trying to balance everyone’s use and enjoyment of the lake.”
Residents and visitors should do the following to help prevent the spread of hydrilla, as provided by the city:
- Clean and dry boats and gear before and after use
- Avoid swimming and boating through dense sectors of plant
- Refrain from tossing plants into the lake; they may be fined up to $2,000 per plant
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