AQUATIC WEED CONTROL:
In 1950, the Florida Fresh Water Fish & Game Commission, recognized that aquatic weeds were causing problems for fishermen and boaters. Aquatic weed control is divided into three areas: Field operations and permitting, and research.
The Operations branch operates from statewide headquarters in Lakeland, and coordinates operations through five supervisors through-out the state. These supervisors coordinate state operations with federal and local programs to avoid duplication.
The Permit section is composed of six aquatic botanists whose primary responsibility is permitting of aquatic weed control operations under guidelines established by the Dept. of Natural Resources.
The Research group provides research capabilities for control programs as they relate to fresh water fisheries in the areas of biological and chemical, environmental and mechanical control.
Aquatic botanists are required to have knowledge of and ability to identify all species of native and exotic aquatic plants found in southeastern United States, particularly those found in Florida.
They are also required to make recommendations to control and or manage the various aquatic plants throughout the State of Florida, and are responsible for reviewing and recommending approval or disapproval of all aquatic vegetation control program permits as required by the Natural Resources or Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Duties included providing the general public with an extension service regarding the latest and safest, methods of aquatic vegetation control.
Aquatic botanist's also set up and carry out research projects in other chemical and mechanical, biological and physical controls of noxious aquatic vegetation, and must have knowledge of general fish management methods and equipment.
Aquatic botanists are often called to speak to various civic and garden, and sportsmen clubs on aquatic weed control and/or related subjects. They are required to meet with other state agencies and aquatic weed control groups, and private applicators in order to provide the latest information on herbicides and permitting, and regulations.
An average of 1000 requests for assitance are received and acted upon by each aquatic botanist during the course of one year. And approximately 400 aquatic weed control permits are processed.
Miscellaneous duties include conducting vegetation transects for the grass carb study areas and surveillance of public boat ramps to prevent the spread of noxious aquatic weed vegetation, and emergency aquatic plant control measures required to keep popular fishing areas open to boat traffic.
The aquatic weed control research section consists of two biologists, located in Eustis, who are responsible for determining the effects of herbicides on bottom organisms and specialized field studies. A third biologist located in Fort Lauderdale, is responsible for collecting field data information on the four study areas stocked with grass carp. The grass carp project is a cooperative study being conducted by personel of the Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission and the Department of Natural Resources.
The Department of Natural Resources designed a large water hyacinth harvester which started operation in the winter of 1973 and is operated by the Commission personel.
They determined there were an estimated 350,000 acres of noxious aquatic weeds in Florida waters. The figure included water hyacinth and hydrilla and eurasian watermilfoil and alligator weed, all of which are exotic or non-native species of aquatic plants in Florida.
Anyone wishing to comment or share about exotic aquatic weeds or animals in their state or country are welcome to add their information here.
