1. Melaleuca in the Everglades
Mike Bodle
Vegetation Management Division
South Florida Water Management District

2. Early Awareness Recognized as a problem in the early 70’s (FL FWCC)
Skepticism concerning ability
to control

3. “There is very real potential that all the sawgrass in South Florida could eventually become melaleuca forest.”
-Mark Maffei, 1989

4. “We’re basically talking everything in South Florida except the coastal ridge.”
-Ted Center on melaleuca distribution in South Florida, 1989

5. “It’s a tree from hell.”
-Dan Thayer, 1990

6. “Only a continued and cohesive blitzkrieg will
“Only a continued and cohesive blitzkrieg will achieve solid melaleuca control.”
-Mike Bodle, 1990

7. “Melaleuca is a biological disaster for South Florida.”
-Congressman E. Clay Shaw, 1990

8. “Melaleuca quinquenervia is now poised to expand throughout the Everglades. The time for integrated management of the tree has come. Combined efforts and methods will, hopefully, reverse this weed’s expansion.”
-Melaleuca Management Plan for South Florida, 1990

9. “The current level of melaleuca infestation in South Florida and the potential for continued alteration of natural habitats by this invasive biological pollutant signal that the need for a statewide melaleuca management program is now!”
- Ken Langeland, 1990

10. “We’re getting kind of panicky, man.”
-Tony Pernas, 1993

11. Melaleuca Management Historical Background
Two Melaleuca workshops (FL FWCC)
Melaleuca symposium (FL Div. Forestry)
Exotic woody plant conference (Fairchild)
Exotic Woody Plant workshop (ENP)
Exotic Pest Plant Council formed
ENP Initiates Control Program
EPPC Exotic Pest Plant Symposium
Melaleuca Task Force

12. Melaleuca Task Force January 1990
Jointly convened by
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
South Florida Water Management District
>30 participants:
Federal, state, & local government representatives, scientists, NGOs, private industry
Objective:
Develop a comprehensive strategy for managing melaleuca throughout its range in Florida

13. Melaleuca Management Plan
May st ed.
April nd ed.
revised to include most recent information
May rd ed.
revised to update information
recommendations changed to reflect progress

14. Melaleuca Management Plan: EPPC Management Plan Approach
Summarize current ecological knowledge
identify research gaps
Summarize existing control technologies
what is working, and where
Identify control technology research needs
developing biological controls, improving chemical and mechanical controls
Develop plan to integrate and coordinate efforts regionally

15. Melaleuca Management Plan Defining the Problem
Extent of infestations:
South of Hwy 60
Mainly concentrated near areas of early plantings
Early Assessment:
Various techniques tried
satellite images
false color infrared
aerial reconnaissance
Estimates varied
495, million acres

16. Melaleuca Management Plan Defining the Problem
Summarize invasion of native habitats
Sawgrass prairies
Cypress heads
Pinelands
Ecological questions
Reproductive ecology
Florida vs. Australia

17. Melaleuca Management Plan Defining the Problem
Summarize available control options in 1990
Many herbicides tried
Effectiveness varied
Initial treatments result in dense, even-aged seedling stands
Treated trees often resprout
Mechanical removal very expensive & unsuited for most natural areas
Melaleuca tree that was controlled with herbicides surrounded by “doghair” seedlings

18. Melaleuca Management Plan Recommendations
Research
develop biological control agents
search for better ways to use herbicides
Develop ways to measure of infestation level
fill gaps in ecological knowledge
Operations
Education

19. Melaleuca Management Plan Recommendations
Research
Operations
establish melaleuca-free zones around ENP, Big Cypress, WCAs, Holey Land, & Lake Okeechobee
apply strategy of first removing outliers, then moving progressively closer to focus of each infestation
monitor sites for regrowth/seedlings up to 4 years post-treatment & retreat as needed
Education

20. Melaleuca Management Plan Recommendations
Research
Operations
Education
inform government officials about magnitude of problem & need for funding
inform resource managers of best control options & opportunities resource sharing cost-sharing
inform general public of problem & encourage removal of trees on private property

21. Melaleuca Management Plan Implementing the Plan
How quickly do infestations grow?
Aerial photos of 1 mi2 areas (1:3600 scale)
8 areas in Dade & Broward Counties
25 yrs to go from 5% (30 acres) to 95% (600 acres) cover
Source: Laroche & Ferriter 1992
J. Aquatic Plant Manage. 30: 62-65
1965
1990

22. Melaleuca Management Plan Implementing the Plan
How much?
Aerial surveys (SFWMD)
flight lines every 2.5 mi
coordinates (GPS) & density recorded for every occurrence
Conducted biannually
488,000 acres in 1993
453,000 acres in 1995
391,000 acres in 1997
359,000 acres in 1999

23. Melaleuca Management Plan Implementing the Plan
Strategy
Eliminate existing
stands
Halt expansion
mechanical removal
treat with herbicides
Seed/sapling
mortality
Reduce seed
production
hand-pull saplings
treat with herbicides
damage by biocontrol
insects
damage by
biocontrol insects

24. Melaleuca Control in by Ground application in Pennsuco Mitigation Area
April 1998
February 1999
October 2000
October 2001
October 2003

25. Melaleuca Management Plan Implementing the Plan
Perform herbicide trials:
Ground application
Hack/squirt - completely girdle tree
Cut Stump - treat stumps shortly after cut
Aerial application
Determine effective herbicides
use microfoil boom with small (0.02) nozzle
overlap spray paths by 50%

26. Crew Transport Airboat
Helicopter – a necessity in early days of control in Everglades
ATV/ Buggy

27. Melaleuca Management Expenditures (FY 91-01)
South Florida Water Management District $21,649,322
Big Cypress National Preserve $ 2,579,000
Everglades National Park $ 3,548,000
Areas under Maintenance Control
Water Conservation Areas 2A, 3A, 3B 600,000 acres
Lake Okeechobee ,000 acres
Everglades National Park 200,000 acres
Big Cypress National Preserve 100,000 acres

28. Distribution of Expenditures
Ground Application 75%
Aerial application 15%
Biocontrol %

29. Conceptual Model Reliance Time Herbicides and Mechanical Control
Biological Control
Reliance
Today
Time

30. Melaleuca Management Plan Recommendations
Research
develop biological control agents - Yes
search for better ways to use herbicides - Yes
Develop ways to measure of infestation level - Yes
fill gaps in ecological knowledge - Yes
Operations
Education

31. Melaleuca Management Plan Recommendations
Research
Operations
establish melaleuca-free zones around ENP, Big Cypress, WCAs, Holey Land, & Lake Okeechobee - So-so
apply strategy of first removing outliers, then moving progressively closer to focus of each infestation – Yes on most pubic lands
monitor sites for regrowth/seedlings up to 4 years post-treatment & retreat as needed – Yes on most public lands
Education

32. Melaleuca Management Plan Recommendations
Research
Operations
Education
inform government officials about magnitude of problem & need for funding - Yes
inform resource managers of best control options & opportunities resource sharing cost-sharing - Yes
inform general public of problem & encourage removal of trees on private property - Yes