San Benito, TX (KRGV) — Crews with the Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2 are removing an invasive plant from a San Benito resaca for the second time this year.

The water hyacinth is a fast-growing aquatic plant that can deplete oxygen from the water, clog irrigation canals, and harbor pests.

Crews are working near Old Sam Houston Boulevard before moving to the Business 77 area. The job takes heavy equipment and weeks of work.

District crews use an excavator to pull the water hyacinth out of the resaca and haul it away in dump trucks. Crews spent about 45 days clearing the Business 77 area earlier this year, but the plants returned and covered the water again.

"With winter coming along, hopefully that'll help slow it down so we can do some catch-up work, but I foresee us having the issue moving into the future," Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2 General Manager Ben Escobar said.

The district budgets for the cleanup every year to cover fuel, equipment, and staff. The plan is to remove the existing growth and then spot treat new growth as it appears.

The district expects crews to return to the Business 77 area in November and finish that work before the new year.

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