The New River suffers from infestations of Alligator Weed and Parrot Feather.  As urbanization has increased along the shores of the New River, so has the appearance of invasive aquatics.  Often stretching from shore to shore, large mats of these very invasive weeds significantly reduce the amount of oxygen and light penetration necessary to support aquatic life in upstream spawning and nursery areas.The runoff of fertilizers from urban areas as well as farms exacerbates the problem by providing a rich food source for aquatic weeds and algae while reducing the overall water quality. Efforts to eliminate these weeds will continue to fail until we establish effective riparian barriers and effective education for homeowners as well as farms and businesses.