Santee Cooper to begin efforts to kill invasive plants Oct. 9

CLARENDON COUNTY - People living in the Persanti Island, Hickory Top and Jacks Creek areas of Lake Marion will be seeing a helicopter flying over those areas beginning Oct. 9 as Santee Cooper begins efforts to eradicate up to 500 acres of giant cutgrass and mixed stands of the invasive aquatic plant giant salvinia.

Giant salvinia, an invasive plant originating from Brazil, was found on the Santee Cooper lakes system in 2017 and has since rapidly spread from upper Lake Marion to other areas of both lakes Marion and Moultrie. Giant cutgrass has also created dense stands restricting public access in the area historically known as the Super Flats.

The treatment application that will be applied includes EPA-approved aquatic herbicides, which pose no water-use restrictions in the areas treated. The treatment will improve public access and help prevent further spread of giant salvinia to other areas of the lakes system.

This effort is a cooperative project with the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, Ducks Unlimited, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Santee Cooper. Inquiries regarding the operation should be directed to Santee Cooper at aquaticplantcontrol@santeecooper.com. You can learn more about aquatic plant control at www.santeecooper.com/lakes.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina's largest power provider, the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.