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Benton Conservation District (BCD) is leading the community effort to deal with water stargrass. Although a native plant, water stargrass acts like an invasive species dominating the lower river to the exclusion of other native plants. The dense vegetation creates challenges for irrigation and recreation, degrades water quality and fish habitat, and enhances breeding grounds for disease carrying mosquitos.

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Water stargrass has steadily increased over the last two decades. After the sun goes down, water stargrass consumes more oxygen than it produces, and sometimes causes dangerous drops in the amount of oxygen available to fish and other aquatic life. Salmon spawning in the lower river below Prosser has declined over the past decade as water stargrass covers traditional nesting grounds. 

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With the help of our basin partners, state legislative funding, and grant funding from the Department of Ecology and the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, BCD is developing a combination of tools to help our community manage the ongoing challenges posed by water stargrass. 

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