SPATIAL TEMPORAL MAPPING OF SPREAD OF WATER HYACINTH IN WINUM GULF, LAKE VICTORIA

Abstract. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an invasive hydro plant that invaded the waters of Lake Victoria and has since been spreading rapidly affecting the socio-economic livelihood of the community around the Lake. The weed's rapid spread is due to various anthropogenic activities in the surrounding environment among them being the eutrophication of the lake waters.

This study aims at using remote sensing applications and presenting the results of the analysis of the water hyacinth Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), water extent, and analysis of correlation with the water quality over time from Sentinel 2 satellite imagery in January 2017 to January of 2021. The analysis aims at understanding the vegetation growth coverage in the five years and sets the basis of monthly predictive modelling of the behavior of water hyacinth. Predictive modelling applies historical statistical data while trying to use trend analysis in predicting the future behavior of a phenomenon. This study also seeks to answer the research question of the role of suspended sediments and dissolved minerals in abating the spread of and growth of water hyacinth.