1. Florida’s Aquatic Plant Management Program …Citra, FL March 3, 2015 Jeff Schardt FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Invasive Plant Management Section

2. FWC Responsibility 460 public lakes and rivers - 1.25 million acres 28 exotic species - (96%) 28 exotic species - (96%) - 14 invasive - (94%) 456 authorized management programs 456 authorized management programs - 69,170 acres / 5 yr avg - $18.1M / 5 yr avg 460 public lakes and rivers - 1.25 million acres 28 exotic species - (96%) 28 exotic species - (96%) - 14 invasive - (94%) 456 authorized management programs 456 authorized management programs - 69,170 acres / 5 yr avg - $18.1M / 5 yr avg

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

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

5. Control Options Biological17 Chemical29 Cultural / Physical 9 Mechanical 4 Environmental

6. Biological Plant# Biocontrols Alligatorweed 3 Hydrilla 5 Water hyacinth 4 Water lettuce 2 Melaleuca 3

7. Hydrilla Biocontrols 4 host-specific insects Sterile grass carp - 100

8. Mechanical - History

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

10. Harvest - Shred

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

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

13. Chemical - 15 / 29 / 48 USEPA-FDACS Registered Herbicides Herbicide# bispyribac1 carfentrazone1 copper3 diquat1 endothall4 flumioxazin1 fluridone6 glyphosate1 Herbicide# imazamox2 Imazapyr1 penoxsulam2 peroxide1 topramezone1 triclopyr2 2,4-D2

14. Herbicide Registration Process for aquatic registration ~ 140 health and environmental tests ~ 8-10 years for full EPA registration ~ $40-60 million for aquatic registration

15. 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

16. Research Management Reproductive methods – seed / propagule viability Weakness in life cycle Susceptibility to available controls – synergistic effects Impacts to non-target organisms

17. 1970-2014 $26.7 million Funded 221 projects Research Program

18. Mesocosm Herbicide Research Ponds Small lakes Large scale

19. Minimize Herbicide Use Integrate with other methods Apply lowest effective rates Apply when target is most susceptible Control before problems develop

20. Management Decisions Uses / functions Plant species present Impairment Technology Current conditions Budget

21. Management Dilemma Manager perspective – control invasive plants before they become a problem Stakeholder perspective – don’t control plants until they become a problem

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

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

24. Outreach

28. 850-617-9420 jeff.schardt@myfwc.com http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/manage/