Sen. Richard Blumenthal is advocating for new federal funding to combat an invasive aquatic species found in a Connecticut river.

He says Hydrilla, known as "the world's worst invasive aquatic plant,” can be found in a major Connecticut waterway located about two miles from the Long Island Sound. Hydrilla was first detected in the Connecticut River in 2016 and has been growing ever since, according to Blumenthal.

"Right now, it may be unknown to a lot of people, but it's a creeping, exploding monster found in the Connecticut River. I am working for greater funding to go to the Corps of Engineers, our Army Corps of Engineers, to combat this pernicious menace to our environment, our economy and our ecology,” he said.