County District III Supervisor Mary Piepho is hosting a meeting next week with the California Department of Boating and Waterways and has invited representatives from the office of Congressman Jerry McNerney, Congressman John Garamendi, Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, Sen. Lois Wolk and Assemblymember Joan Buchanan. The meeting will also include representatives of the California Department of Food and Agriculture/Invasive Species, Department of Water Resources, Reclamation District 800, Discovery Bay CSD, the Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner and the Delta community to address egeria densa, a local invasive weed, in all areas of the Delta.

The invasive water weed is clogging channels and making a damaging impact on Delta waterways, including the south Delta export pumps operated by the Department of Water Resources.

“Although this waterway is under the control of the state, it is with collaboration from federal, state and local representatives that I believe this issue can best be resolved,” said Piepho. “We need to work together and come up with solutions to serve our constituents. The water weed is not a new issue but it is creating significant havoc for boaters, fishermen and others whose livelihood and recreation are built around the Delta. Government at all levels needs to go into action and work to fix this problem.”