Toho's fish, snail kites and other wildlife to benefit from treatments
News Release
Friday, September 23, 2011
Media contact: Joy Hill, 352-258-3426
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will
treat about 340 acres of dense stands of emergent aquatic plants in
Lake Tohopekaliga in Osceola County on Sept. 29 and 30. Emergent
plants are those that grow up out of the water; submersed are those
growing below the water's surface.
The purpose of the treatment is to improve foraging habitat for
fish and wildlife, including the endangered Everglade snail
kite.
"We also are treating dense vegetation between snail kite nest
areas and uplands to help protect the endangered birds from
predators on land who can go across the thick vegetation in the
lake to access the nests," said Tim Coughlin, aquatic habitat
restoration and enhancement biologist for the FWC.
The targeted emergent plants are cattails, pickerelweed and
water primrose, and they will be treated with herbicide via
helicopter. Aerial treatments are an efficient and effective method
for controlling certain types of aquatic plants. The herbicide is
approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use
in lakes, and there are no restrictions for fishing, swimming or
irrigation.
For questions about these treatments, contact Tim Coughlin at
352-732-1225.
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