Thousands of grass carp released into Lake Austin to control hydrilla

AUSTIN, Texas - The city is working to stop the rapid spread of hydrilla in Lake Austin.

Experts are turning to a familiar fix — grass carp. It's something the city hasn’t had to use in the last decade.

Stopping spread of hydrilla in Lake Austin

The backstory:

The city says hydrilla has taken over much of Lake Austin. The invasive plant can benefit fish and improve water quality, but when it grows too quickly, it becomes a big problem for boaters.

The city says hydrilla now covers about 30% of Lake Austin, up from just 5% in June.

"It can be hard for boats to maneuver and for people to enjoy and recreate on the lake. And so people have been coming to the city with concerns about what we can do to manage this aquatic plant on Lake Austin," said Liz Johnston, Environmental Officer, A