most impossible at this point because the plants tangle with the small fishing boats, which the poor countries rely on for transportation, and trap them. Though no one is sure when the plant first entered the lake (1989 was when it was first noticed), many believe that it entered by means of the Kagera River. The weed is growing at an alarming rate. Satelitle photos from 1996 show that the weed consumed nearly 1% of the lake's surface. Scientist predict that number to be as high as three percent today (CITATION NEEDED). Scientists have offered the solution of harvesting the plant and using it for compost for the nearby farms. One company, Aquarius Systems, is actually in the process of engineering a machine called a "swamp devil." These machines consist of a 234-horsepower engine that spins two blades, measuring 2.4 meters a piece in diameter. These blades are known to easily handle trees 15 inches in diameter. The swamp devils essentially chop up the vegetation, which is picked up by another device consisting of a conveyer belt and what amounts to a flatbed on a boat. This seems to be a rather effiecent way to clear the vegetaion, and is being warmly accpeted by most lakeside communities.Lake Victoria is very unique ecosystem, both because of its cichlids fish that have shown immense signs of evolution over a rather short period of time, and the fact that it is depended upon by a large number of people for food, water, business, and other functions that are essential to maintain a acceptable standard of living. Since western civilations "discovered" the lake, the resources the lake's life, as well as humans, depend on and have seemingly taken for grantend have been in grave danger, and continue to decline in numbers and quality.If the steps are not taken quickly, chances are Lake Victoria will become a useless cesspool that is nothing but a nusance and a reminder of the wasteful creatures that we are. Fortunatly, though, we h...
