Assessment of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) distribution and changes in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway through remote sensing techniques.

Water hyacinth is an invasive weed that significantly impacts Ethiopia's environment and human well-being, particularly in Lake Koka and Lake Ziway. It reduces water availability and biodiversity in these areas. This study aimed to predict the spread of water hyacinth using GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation and Sentinel-2 imagery. Field collections were conducted in both lakes during the wet and dry seasons of 2020. A multivariate statistical classifier was employed to map the spatial distribution of water hyacinth. The results indicate that in Lake Koka, coverage increased from 3.87% (1455.39 ha) in the dry season to 12.44% (4678.06 ha) in the wet season. In Lake Ziway, coverage ranged from 10.01% (6526.30 ha) to 11.39% (7424.05 ha) between the seasons. These findings highlight the significant proliferation of water hyacinth during the rainy season, which harms biodiversity and socioeconomic development. Additionally, the study found a decrease in the area covered by water hyacinths in agricultural land, water bodies, and bare land. Restoring land use and monitoring weed growth regularly is essential to mitigate these effects.