LCRA announces invasive plant removal schedule, rebates
A large mat of invasive hydrilla stretches out across Lake LBJ near the RR 1431 bridge in Kingsland in the summer of 2023. The Lower Colorado River Authority announced its 2025 special rebates for invasive aquatic plant removal on lakes LBJ, Inks, and Marble Falls. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The Lower Colorado River Authority will refund up to 50 percent (maximum of $7,500) of the cost of invasive aquatic plant removal for communities along Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, and Lake Marble Falls between specific dates in March and August, depending on the removal method. A strict schedule for herbicidal removal in 2025 also was released.
Who can get a rebate?
The rebates are limited to homeowner and property owner associations and city and county governments. They are not available to individual property owners.
The rebates are only applicable to removal projects on Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, and Lake Marble Falls.
What are the rebates for?
The rebates are available for projects that include the herbicidal or mechanical removal of invasive aquatic plant species such as hydrilla, water hyacinth, and Eurasian watermilfoil. They cannot be applied to the removal of native aquatic plants such as cabomba, coontail, American pondweed, water stargrass, spatterdock, and eel grass.
How to qualify?
To gain access to a rebate, applicants must use a licensed aquatic herbicide applicator, if herbicides are applied, and submit a treatment proposal to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the LCRA to obtain approval in advance. Mechanical removal projects do not require a licensed professional, but all projects must provide an itemized receipt of the work and proof of TPWD approval of the treatment plan by Sept. 15.
A TPWD treatment proposal form (found here), a map delineating the proposed treatment area, and photographs of the invasive plant issue must be sent to Patrick.Ireland@tpwd.texas.gov and water.weeds@lcra.org before any treatment plan can begin. Both agencies are required to respond within 14 days of receiving proposals.
Rebate and treatment scheduling
Highland Lakes residents may mechanically remove invasive aquatic plant species at any time of the year, but herbicidal treatments may only be performed during specific windows set by the LCRA, depending on the exact location of the proposed project.
Rebates are only applicable to herbicidal projects performed in their designated window between March 24 and Aug. 23. Mechanical projects can receive rebates if performed anytime between March 10 and Aug. 31.
The LCRA has designated three distinct zones between Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, and Lake Marble Falls that dictate four specific herbicidal treatment windows that must be adhered to, regardless of whether or not a project seeks a rebate.
To see where your property falls in these treatment zones, the deadlines to file for treatment approval, and the windows for treatment, visit the interactive map midway down this LCRA webpage.