Posted: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:51 PM - 14,953 Readers

By: Andrew Chung

It is a nuisance that has been plaguing local lakes. Hydrilla is a non-native aquatic plant that has invaded Lake Austin, causing problems for boaters as well as swimmers.
The City of Austin and the Lower Colorado River Authority are in the process of lowering Lake Austin by 12 feet.
  
The lowering of the lake started Monday and is dropping about half a foot a day. It should be low enough by next week that an expected freeze will help kill off the invasive plants.
 
"The freeze next week is really good timing because the lake will be at one of its lowest points.  And that's one of the reasons we do it this time of year, because it's cold; there's less recreation on the lake, and a better chance for a freeze, which helps kill the vegetation," Lynn Lightsey of the City of Austin's Watershed Protection and Development Review Department said.
Boaters are also asked to clear any hydrilla from propellers to keep the plant from spreading.
 
Lake Austin should be back to its normal level by Feb. 13.