The Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Dallas will deploy a herbicide in spots around White Rock Lake today where a poisonous plant has been detected.
Officials say water hemlock has been found growing in several regions around the lake.
Water hemlock has small clusters of white flowers in an umbrella formation. The plant is highly toxic if ingested and can even cause problems if it comes into contact with the skin. For that reason, crews can not pull it up by hand or mow it. Instead, the city will use a licensed Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator to treat areas with an herbicide called Rodeo that contains glyphosate.
The chemical is approved for use near the water. The Parks and Recreation Department usually tries to avoid using chemicals near the lake but officials say in this case, it's the best response to the unique threat to public health.
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