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The local coalition formed to fight the invasive aquatic plant hydrilla is urging aggressive State action to eradicate the infestation, and to fully fund the effort, beginning in the 2012-13 State budget.

Testifying yesterday before the Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the 2012-13 Executive Budget, Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District Manager Craig Schutt, representing his District, the City of Ithaca, and Tompkins County, and New York State Parks-Finger Lakes Region, warned that hydrilla, which first appeared here last fall, represents “a significant threat to our environment and economy,” and that State action is needed now to prevent its spread, before the window to eradicate it closes.

“An effective eradication strategy will cost New York State between $700,000 and $1 million a year for at the next five years,” Schutt said.  “If that investment isn’t made beginning this spring, the cost of localities, the region, and the state will increase exponentially—as will the damage to the environment.  We are asking you to fully fund this effort, beginning in the 2012-13 State budget.”

While local governments supported most of the eradication efforts last fall, he said the current scope of the problem and cost of the solution are far beyond local capacities to address.  Schutt warned that the economic costs of allowing the hydrilla plant to spread are enormous—that New York State is in danger of losing much of the $600 million economic impact from recreational boating in regions of the state bordering the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes, with serious harm to the the Finger Lakes’ vital tourism industry. Once hydrilla begins its spread, the cost to New York State to maintain some level of public access will be enormous, Schutt cautioned.  “The choice facing New York State today is to pay a little now, or pay a lot more later.”

While local partners came together quickly when the plant was first discovered last fall to develop and implement a safe and effective initial treatment strategy, committing staff and direct funding exceeding $100,000, the manager said “the level of effort and funding required to address this infestation of State waterways is far beyond the capacity of local governments and agencies.” He said the $380,000 in Great Lakes Restoration initiative funds committed last year by the Department of Environmental Conservation, while appreciated, won’t solve the problem.

“I can’t stress enough that hydrilla isn’t simply a nuisance,” Schutt concluded.  “It is an immediate and dire threat to New York’s treasured Finger Lakes and a killer of jobs and commerce.  On behalf of the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, and the Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District, I urge you to fully fund an aggressive, effective program to stop the spread of hydrilla right now, before it spreads throughout the Finger Lakes and beyond.”

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