Hydrilla Treatments for Orange County, Florida Lakes
OutdoorHub 02.20.12
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will treat three Orange County lakes for hydrilla during the week of Feb. 27, and will monitor them for 90 days following in case additional treatments are necessary.
FWC aquatic plant managers will treat lakes Starke and Lawne with Aquathol and Galleon, which have no restrictions for fishing, swimming, drinking or livestock consumption. There are no irrigation restrictions for Aquathol, but some vegetation may be sensitive to Galleon™, so the FWC recommends that residents do not irrigate with Galleon-treated water for at least 90 days.
They will also treat Lake Mann with Aquathol and Tradewind, which have no restrictions for fishing, swimming or drinking. There is no restriction for irrigating turf with Tradewind-treated water if bispyribac-sodium levels are low. Aquatic plant managers recommend that lakefront residents do not use Tradewind-treated water to irrigate newly planted ornamental annuals or crops for livestock for at least 90 days.
Aquathol , Galleon and Tradewind are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in lakes.
The FWC’s Invasive Plant Management Section will post notices at the lakes’ public boat ramps on the day of treatments and will remove the notices once the final treatments have been completed.
Hydrilla is an invasive, exotic aquatic plant spread easily by boats throughout the state’s lakes and rivers. It clogs waterways, making recreational activities difficult or impossible and chokes out beneficial native plants. Managing and treating it is necessary for the health of Florida’s waters and to enable continued recreational boating and other aquatic activities.
Anyone with concerns about bispyribac-sodium levels or any other questions should call Alicia Knecht, FWC invasive plant management regional biologist, at 321-246-0682.
