FWC conducts aquatic plant control on Lochloosa Lake

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will conduct aquatic plant control in portions of Lochloosa Lake the week of April 24, weather permitting. The FWC will treat 32 acres of invasive hydrilla in the Alachua County lake along the northeastern shoreline where it is encroaching on beneficial native submersed aquatic plants and could impact access to navigation.

To find out more about the herbicides being used and if there are any use restrictions associated with these treatments, visit MyFWC.com/Lakes and click on the “Plant Mgmt Schedule of Operations” under the “Aquatic Plants” dropdown menu.

The FWC manages hydrilla on a lake-by-lake basis using a collaborative approach. The FWC makes management decisions after comparing the benefits that low to moderate levels of hydrilla can provide for fish and wildlife, and the desires of various stakeholder groups against the impact this invasive plant can have on native plant communities, access and navigation, flood control, and management costs.

Guidelines developed by the Orange Creek Basin Working Group for Lochloosa include the target of managing all submersed aquatic plants, including hydrilla, at between 0 and 13% coverage of the lake. Coverage at this optimum level would prevent the need for large-scale aquatic plant control. Current coverage is expected to exceed this target if not proactively managed.

For general waterbody information, fishing forecasts, virtual tours, plant control operation schedules and annual workplans, boat ramp information, and more, visit the “What’s Happening on My Lake” website at MyFWC.com/Lakes.

For more information about the treatment, contact Chris Boever, FWC invasive plant management biologist, at 386-754-1664.