WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - A fast-growing plant has taken over areas of the lakes in City Park.

The American Lotus is a native plant that is depriving organisms below the surface of the nutrients they need to survive.

The plant is growing at a rate of 10 feet per week. A volunteer group is working to remove the plant before it spreads farther, creating an even bigger problem.

"We thought, if some volunteers don't do something, this is going to be just one more ugly swamp," said former U.S. Representative and cleanup volunteer Henson Moore. "We want them pretty like they were 30 or 40 years ago, where people can canoe and boat ride in them."

Volunteers have already made significant progress in certain areas, working four days a week to clear the American Lotus, water lattice and Hyacinth. Allied waste has agreed to pick up the debris free of charge. Anyone is welcome to volunteer, Exxon-Mobil is assisting the efforts next Saturday. E-mail ParryMattT@aol.com for more information.