China Water: June 15, 2008: Water Hyacinth in Huangpu river.

This story tells of an infestation of water hyacinth in the Huanpu river near Shanghai. The water hyacinth is a native of South America, not Asia, and spreads rapidly, too rapidly, causing much trouble to water systems not just in China, but also in Florida and elsewhere. Fast growing, non-indigenous plants can cause a lot of problems in water sources, sometimes by becoming entangled in systems, other time simply by growing at a rate where they take large amounts of water for their needs, thereby depriving not just humans but also native eco-systems of needed water.

Peter Huston
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http://english.eastday.com/eastday/englishedition/metro/userobject1ai3655023.html
Weeds spread along Huangpu River 15/6/2008 10:51

Dong Hui/ Shanghai Daily news

A noxious infestation of water hyacinth has been discovered in the upper reaches of the Huangpu River, Shanghai Public Sanitation Bureau said on Friday, Shanghai Daily reported.

The water hyacinth has formed a 10-kilometer belt on the river, 10 to 40 meters wide, near the gateway of the river.

Officials from the bureau said the infestation may affect the waters but they will try their best to minimize the threat.

This year's water hyacinth seeds are smaller than before and easier to pass through traps and collection sieves. The water hyacinth infestation flowed into the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek from 158 tributaries.