Aquatic Plant Management
Aquatic Plant Management Program Enhancements
About the Program
The FWC's Aquatic Plant Management Program designs, funds, coordinates, and contracts invasive nonnative aquatic plant control efforts in Florida's 1.25 million acres of public waters under Florida Statute and Rule. Public water bodies are sovereignty waters accessible by public boat ramps. Invasive non-native aquatic plants, mostly hydrilla, water hyacinth and water lettuce are managed in several hundred water bodies throughout Florida each year.
Lake Management Plans
The FWC is developing comprehensive lake management plans, covering the management of fish, wildlife and habitat in priority systems. The development of these management plans will allow for local stakeholders and FWC staff to jointly craft management targets and approaches that will ensure the long-term well-being of these resources and their benefit to people. The FWC encourages people to be a part of this process and provide input on lakes in their area.
The FWC's process for Aquatic Plant Management:
Plant Management in Florida Waters
This resource describes in detail why invasive aquatic plants need management to maintain a healthy ecosystem and a description of what makes Florida’s waters unique. It also includes information on the methods the FWC uses to control plants and the science-based decision-making used to develop waterbody management plans.
The FWC's role in aquatic plant management:
A variety of federal, state, local and private entities manage aquatic plants in Florida with the FWC being the lead agency. The FWC follows the regulatory guidelines set by the EPA, and coordinates with the US Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences.
View the summary of the FWC's role in coordinating plant management in Florida.
Hurricanes and Aquatic Vegetation in Florida
The impacts of hurricanes on aquatic vegetation can be severe and may result in long-lasting impacts, often leading to many years of recovery to return to pre-hurricane conditions. Learn more about how severe storms can impact aquatic plant management.
Resources
FWC is building a comprehensive page to display a variety of information regarding Florida’s aquatic resources. Currently this page includes the What's Happening on my Lake map, which includes general waterbody information, fishing forecasts, virtual tours, plant control operation schedules and annual workplans, boat ramp information, depth contour maps, fisheries catch data and creel surveys, aquatic plant surveys, historical plant control acreage data, and control trends by plant.
Due to safety concerns regarding FWC staff and contractors, public posting of the Schedule of Operations is paused until further notice.
- 2021-2022 Annual Report
- 2020-21 Annual Report
- 2019-2020 Annual Report
- 2018-2019 Annual Report
- 2017-2018 Annual Report
- 2016-2017 Annual Report
- 2015-2016 Annual Report
- 2014-2015 Annual Report
- 2013-2014 Annual Report
- 2012-2013 Annual Report
- 2011-2012 Annual Report
- 2010-2011 Annual Report
- 2009-2010 Annual Report
- 2008-2009 Annual Report
- 2022-2023 Annual Report
The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Reports are submitted annually to the Environmental Protection Agency and are available to the public here.
The University of Florida's Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants has a wealth of resources including plants pictures, drawings, identification, information and books about aquatic plants.
