Stockton Tackling Channel-Clogging Hyacinth Problem

(AP) More than 375,000 pounds of water hyacinth has been removed from the channel in the past few weeks.

Port of Stockton managers are trying to prevent a repeat of last year, when ships stopped trying to navigate the channel at night because they couldn't tell the difference between land and floating mats of hyacinth.

Port officials say a state spraying program failed to control the hyacinth, so they contracted with a Bay Area company to remove it.

Left unchecked, water hyacinth grows into a solid carpet across the water surface that can jam propellers and rudders, and clog water intakes.