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

√

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/