By Garrett Snider, Vegetation Management Manager, Southwest Florida Water Management District
Q: What is vegetation management?
A: Vegetation management is the targeted control of nuisance and invasive exotic vegetation. These operations are conducted on both district-owned lands and on district-managed public waterbodies. This includes the control of both aquatic vegetation, growing in or near water, and terrestrial vegetation, growing on land.
Q: Why is vegetation management important?
A: Invasive plants were introduced by humans to Florida without the natural enemies that would help control their growth in their countries of origin. These plants grow quickly and often propagate easily, outcompeting native vegetation. Invasive terrestrial vegetation can displace native plant communities, disrupt normal ecosystem processes such as fire ecology and destroy wildlife habitat. Invasive aquatic vegetation can hinder navigation, which negatively impacts recreation like boating, swimming and fishing. Invasive aquatic vegetation can also negatively impact water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and limit the natural movement of water during flood events by forming jams on bridges and other structures.
Q: How does the district control invasive vegetation throughout the region?
A: The Southwest Florida Water Management District utilizes a comprehensive approach to managing invasive vegetation on both district lands and public waterbodies. Integrated pest management is a method of managing invasive vegetation that combines cultural, biological, mechanical and chemical controls while considering the impact of these control methods on the environment. On public waterbodies, the district works with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems through FWC’s aquatic plant management program. Aquatic plant management operations are conducted using aquatic herbicides (chemical), harvesters (mechanical) and triploid grass carp (biological), a weed-eating fish. The methods used depend on the plant species being targeted, the level of infestation, the size of the water body and its primary use, among other factors. No single method is effective for all situations. Additionally, the district engages in cultural control methods by educating the public about invasive vegetation through information and public engagement.
Q: What can happen when invasive vegetation is not controlled?
A: Invasive aquatic plants can impede water flow through rivers, ditches, district water control structures and other conveyances. Rampant aquatic vegetation can make it difficult for the members of the public to use boats or kayaks in district waterbodies, disrupt fish and wildlife habitat and impact water quality. Invasive terrestrial vegetation can disrupt wildlife habitat, damage native plant communities and alter fire behavior.
Q: How can the public help?
A: Keeping invasive plants under control is a challenging job. Aside from the district’s efforts in managing thousands of acres of conservation lands and public waters, you can do your part in helping to stop the spread of invasive plants by learning what plants you should and should not plant and by ensuring that all aquatic plant material is removed from your boat and trailer before and after launching your boat. For more information about the district’s aquatic plant management program, please visit watermatters.org/aquaticplants.
