Cabomba Invades Long Island

[robertprice]

No, it's not a lousy Sci Fi movie. The lakes and rivers of Long Island are being clogged up with thick growths of the aquarium plant Cabomba. Cabomba was first growing on Long Island in the 1970's, but it has now become a serious invasive species, attacking as many as 20 lakes and waterways, mostly in Suffolk county. It has clogged up Lake Ronkonkoma, and the Peconic and Yaphank Rivers. It is killing off and squeezing out natural plant and animal life, and is now illegal in Suffolk County. They were contemplating importing Chinese Grass Carp to eat it, but they cost $18 each to get there and and they need about a thousand of them to eat their way through.

Cabomba is able to thrive on Long Island as most of the waterways are shallow, and it is believed to have taken root from a combination of aquarium dumping and hitching rides on boat propellers.

So if, you need a well planted tank, why pay for it? Take a ride out to the Iisland and you can get all the Cabomba your fish need for free.