Efforts are underway to eliminate these infestations. Giant salvinia has oblong floating leaves, to 1- inches, often folded and compressed into upright chains. Leaf surfaces have white bristles or hairs joined at the tips to form a cage , visable with a hand lens.
Bristles give a velvety appearance and repel wetting.
Please report suspected giant salvinia occurrences to your state department of wildlife or environmental protection, and also please report to the U.S. Geological Survey. Ms. Colette Jacono, a biologist with the USGS, is mapping new occurrences and also acting as a clearing house of identification and occurrence information. In addition, informative flyers are available from her for distribution to water and wetland management agencies, fish camps, sports organizations, homeowners associations and others likely to encounter giant salvinia.