(haipo) Kishon River Authority teams carried out extensive work today (Tuesday, 10/13/26) to remove invasive plants from the El Roi Spring, one of the central and beloved nature and recreation sites in the Jezreel Valley. As part of the activity, two invasive plant species, "Water lettuce" and "Aleph ale mimi", which covered the surface of the water and threatened the ecosystem there, were removed from the spring.
Invasive species that choked the spring and endangered the animals
The two invasive species removed from the spring: water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and water millet (Myriophyllum aquaticum), are characterized by an extremely rapid rate of reproduction and an aggressive ability to spread, allowing them to create an impervious substrate on the surface of the water. Their spread in the Elroi Spring led to extensive coverage of the water body, reducing its open surface area and severely impairing the penetration of sunlight and oxygen into the water depth. This process jeopardized the survival of fish, invertebrates and native aquatic plants, and suppressed the native vegetation growing in the spring.
"A real ecological threat that disrupts the natural balance"
Sharon Nissim, CEO of the Kishon River Authority, referred to the activity and said: "The fight against invasive species is one of the most complex and critical challenges in managing the river basin today. Invasive plants such as water lettuce and water yam are not just an aesthetic nuisance, but a real ecological threat that disrupts the natural balance, chokes the springs and harms the unique biodiversity of the Kishon." Nissim added that "the Kishon River Authority will continue to act decisively, through continuous monitoring and focused field work, to protect the ecosystem, preserve natural resources and ensure a healthy and green river for the benefit of the public and future generations."
Part of a multi-year plan to restore the Kishon Basin
The activity at the Elroi Spring is being carried out as part of an ongoing effort by the Kishon River Authority to eradicate invasive species throughout the Kishon Basin, with the aim of preserving the wetland habitats and biodiversity in the area. The cleaning work at the spring is part of the Authority's multi-year work plan to address environmental hazards, restore river sections, and preserve open spaces throughout the entire Kishon Basin. The Authority's spatial teams carried out the work in the field.
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