Plants grow well in Florida, and that includes plants in the water. While aquatic plants growing around the edge of a lake or canal are desirable, there are numerous exotic aquatic weeds that can completely grow over a water body. Several different methods are used to control these weeds.
Grass-eating carp
(triploid grass carp) are one of the few fish species which eat plants. These Asian fish are genetically altered at hatcheries so that they do not breed in Florida waters. WMD maintains the population by adding about 3500 young fish per year at various points. The fish do not eat all vegetation and can cause poor water quality if the water body is overstocked.
Aquatic Herbicides
The Water Management Division maintains a fully-licensed crew to apply the variety of herbicides necessary to treat the variety of aquatic weeds found in the canals and lakes. Herbicides may be applied by spraying or by aqueous injection.
Aquatic Weed Harvester
The Water Management Division uses a mechanical harvester to remove submersed weeds such as hydrilla and hygrophila. The harvester is used in areas where the aquatic vegetation is very dense – it can then remove up to 200 cubic feet of vegetation in a single load. Due to energy and transport costs as well as the size of the harvester, it is most efficiently and most often used in lakes.
