The Tyrrell County Soil & Water Conservation District has sprayed 155,830 feet of shoreline — that’s 29.5 miles, or 53 acres of vegetation in its Tyrrell Aquatic Weed Control and Maintenance Program (TAWCAMP), reported Ty Fleming, district administrator/technician. 

“Our plan is to spray in the spring of the year when the alligator weed starts to bloom, a possible spray mid-summer, and a possible spray in fall, to try and better control than previous efforts of only once a year and around 30-40 acres of vegetation,” Fleming stated.

He said Polaris AQ, a chemical formulated for aquatic use, is currently being sprayed on Tyrrell waters.

In the Goat Neck, eastern Fort Landing and part of Taylor’s Beach areas, 60,779 feet — 11.5 miles — or 20.1 acres of vegetation were sprayed thus far.

In and near Columbia and parts of Soundside, 41,846 feet — eight miles — or 14.6 acres of vegetation were sprayed.

And in Bee Tree Canal, the spraying amounted to 53,205 feet — 10 miles — or 18.3 acres of vegetation.

The Soil & Water Conservation District board of supervisors members are: Carl Jones, chairman; Eric Brown; Mittie Hamilton; Wesley Hopkins and Trey Liverman. The district office is at 155 L.A. Keiser Drive in Columbia.

Fleming included the following anonymous statement at the end of his report: “Man — despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and his many accomplishments — owes his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”