Florida’s Aquatic Plant Management Program …Citra, FL March 3, 2015 Jeff Schardt FL Fish and...

Florida’s Aquatic Plant Management Program

…Citra, FLMarch 3, 2015

Jeff SchardtFL Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionInvasive Plant Management Section

FWC Responsibility• 460 public lakes and rivers

- 1.25 million acres• 28 exotic species - (96%)

- 14 invasive - (94%)• 456 authorized management programs

- 69,170 acres / 5 yr avg- $18.1M / 5 yr avg

Program Components• Prevention• Assessment / EDRR• Regulation / Compliance• Management / Control• Research• Vegetation planting• Education & Outreach

Program Components• Prevention• Assessment / EDRR• Regulation / Compliance• Management / Control• Research• Vegetation planting• Education & Outreach

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Control Options

• Biological 17• Chemical 29• Cultural / Physical 9• Mechanical 4

• Environmental

BiologicalPlant # Biocontrols

Alligatorweed 3Hydrilla 5Water hyacinth 4Water lettuce 2Melaleuca 3

Hydrilla Biocontrols• 4 host-specific insects• Sterile grass carp - 100

Mechanical - History

Mechanical• Non-selective• Slow (2-8 acres/day)• Cost prohibitive• Small areas

Harvest - Shred

Harvest• Harvest• Haul / Dispose• Spread• $10,000 - $20,000 / ac

Cultural / Physical• Hand removal• Diver dredge• Prescribed fire• Drawdown*• Flooding*• Barriers• Dyes• Rakes

Chemical - 15 / 29 / 48 USEPA-FDACS Registered Herbicides

Herbicide #bispyribac 1carfentrazone 1copper 3diquat 1endothall 4 flumioxazin 1fluridone 6glyphosate 1

Herbicide #imazamox 2Imazapyr 1penoxsulam 2peroxide 1topramezone 1triclopyr 22,4-D 2

Herbicide RegistrationProcess for aquatic registration

~ 140 health and environmental tests

~ 8-10 years for full EPA registration

~ $40-60 million for aquatic registration

Herbicide Registration• USEPA registers for aquatic use• FDACS registers for FL use

– envt. agencies comment to FDACS– new compounds - uses / sites

• FWC permits / contracts use in water– funds research

• rates, selectivity, timing, synergy

Research Management• Reproductive methods

– seed / propagule viability• Weakness in life cycle• Susceptibility to available controls

– synergistic effects• Impacts to non-target organisms

1970-2014 $26.7 million Funded 221 projects

Research Program

Mesocosm

Herbicide Research

Ponds

Small lakesLarge scale

Minimize Herbicide Use

• Integrate with other methods• Apply lowest effective rates• Apply when target is most susceptible• Control before problems develop

Management Decisions

• Uses / functions • Plant species present • Impairment• Technology• Current conditions• Budget

Management Dilemma

• Manager perspective – control invasive plants before they

become a problem

• Stakeholder perspective – don’t control plants until they become a problem

Coordination• USACE • Local government• USEPA • Private businesses• USDA • Public / associations• USFWS• USGS• FDEP• FWCC• FDACS• WMDs• Universities

Coordination• USACE • Local government• USEPA • Private businesses• USDA • Public / associations• USFWS• USGS• FDEP• FWCC• FDACS• WMDs• Universities

Outreach

Outreach

Outreach

Outreach

850-617-9420jeff.schardt@myfwc.com

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/manage/