MAGNOLIA — Boaters and anglers have a new tool to help clean their boats of debris at Lake Columbia, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hopes it tips the scales in the fight against aquatic nuisance species. Last week, AGFC staff installed a waterless, solar-powered watercraft cleaning station at Beech Creek Access in Columbia County for boaters to use as they leave the lake to prevent the spread of giant salvinia or other invasive aquatic plants that may be trying to hitch a ride on their boats and trailers.
This is the second such cleaning station the AGFC has deployed in south Arkansas.
“Installing the self-service watercraft cleaning station at this access will allow anglers to help contain giant salvinia in the lake by providing free tools to remove water, weeds, and debris from their boats before leaving the access area,” Matt Horton, Aquatic Nuisance Species Program coordinator for the AGFC, said. “A similar cleaning station installed by the AGFC at AGRED Park on Lake Erling has been used more than 300 times since it was installed just over a year ago. These cleaning stations have proven themselves effective tools in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species in Arkansas as well as other states.”
The cleaning station is equipped with an air blower, wet-dry vacuum and hand tools to remove vegetation and water from boats and trailers, all powered by an onboard battery system that’s recharged through solar panels.
“The onboard software system allows us to track daily tool usage and monitor equipment function remotely,” Horton said. “Lights on the station also make it easier for anglers to use at night if the fishing action keeps them after sundown.”
Lake Columbia is a 3,000-acre reservoir owned by Columbia County and is the municipal water supply for the city of Magnolia and surrounding area. The AGFC manages the lake’s fishery, and it is a very popular destination in southwest Arkansas for recreational boating, fishing and waterfowl hunting. Since giant salvinia was discovered at Lake Columbia in 2019, AGFC has worked closely with the Columbia County Rural Development Authority to install floating containment booms at the northshore and southshore boat ramps to prevent the invasive plant from floating into the boat ramp area and hitching a ride on boats and trailers.
Horton said Beech Creek Access’ size and location near the main creek channel made the installation of such a boom system infeasible.
Giant salvinia is an invasive floating aquatic fern native to South America. It only takes a tiny fragment of the plant to reproduce and is capable of doubling in mass every four days. Lakes where it has been found are at risk of the plant covering the water surface and choking out sunlight and oxygen necessary for fish and other aquatic life to survive. It displaces native plants used by fish, waterfowl and other wildlife for food and habitat, and can create dense mats up to 3 feet thick that block fishing, boating and other recreation.