BCB AQUATIC VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BCB Board Meeting November 20, 2014 BCB Board Meeting November 20, 2014 Chris Doherty, Superintendent, BCBFS Francois LaRoche, Section Administrator, Vegetation Management Chris Doherty, Superintendent, BCBFS Francois LaRoche, Section Administrator, Vegetation Management

BACKGROUND BCB Field Station is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the primary flood control system Vegetation Management is the largest component in Field Station Budget Vegetation Management poses the biggest risk if done incorrectly Balancing Act between chemical treatments and mechanical removal Shallow canals increases growth rate vs. canals on the east coast

BIG CYPRESS BASIN STATISTICS 163 Miles of Canals 1,289 Surface Acres of Canal 5,156 Acre/Feet of Canal 45 Structures 3 Pump Stations 1 in OTMP 2 under construction 22 miles of Levees & Berms 60 Boat Ramps

BCBFS VEGETATION MANAGEMENT CHEMICAL COST BCB Surface Acres = 1,289 Cost to treat one SURFACE ACRE (using Clipper & 2,4-D) Chemical$925.20$1,192, Contractual Labor$26.17$33, Cost to treat one SURFACE ACRE (using Diquat & Aquathol K) Chemical$518.98$668, Contractual Labor$26.17$33,733.13

STAFFING & EQUIPMENT FY 1992 – FY 2007 Field Station performed spraying 1 Superintendent 1 Crew Chief 4 Vegetation Management Technicians (spray canals) 2 Equipment Operators; used Aquamogs to mainly mow banks of canals FY 2007 – FY 2008 Field Station and Applied Aquatics sprayed canals 1 Superintendent 2 Contractors sprayed in town canals (Airport Road, Cocohatchee, 951, I-75) 2 Vegetation Management Technicians (rest of canals) 2 Structure Maintenance Technicians (assisted as needed) 2 Equipment Operators; used Aquamogs to mainly mow banks of canals FY 2008 – FY 2012 Applied Aquatics spraying all canals in BCB 2 Equipment Operators; used Aquamogs for mowing and mechanical harvesting

STAFFING & EQUIPMENT FY 2012 Changed philosophy in vegetation management, started using Aquamogs for vegetation removal along with chemical treatments November 2012 received Conver and put into operations in January 2013 July 2013 received Tow Boat from WPBFS and put into operations

TYPES OF VEGETATION Submersed Vegetation Emersed Vegetation Floating Vegetation Terrestrial (Grasses on bank) Several “NEW” weeds have supplanted hydrilla in many areas Some of these “NEW” weeds are not controlled by “tried-and-true” herbicide applications New aquatic herbicides have reached market recently Some new herbicides are proving effective control on “new” weeds – more trials underway Shallow canals exacerbate growth of aquatic plant material Rotala

INVASIVE WEEDS Rotala (Rotala rotundifolia) Submersed growth quickly fills water Grows out of water up onto banks Herbicide resistant Fragments spread Hygrophila (Hygrophila polysperma)  Submersed growth overwhelms  Brittle, fragments readily  Herbicide resistant

INVASIVE WEEDS Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) Floating plant Rapidly covers surface Resists older herbicides 2014 new product used Crested floating heart (Nymphoides cristata) Floating leaves cover surface Herbicide resistant

TYPES OF TREATMENTS Floating Vegetation Water Hyacinth Water Lettuce Floating Hearts Giant Salvinia Herbicides to Treat Diquat 2,4-D Triclopyr Penoxsulam Submersed Vegetation Hydrilla Hygrophila Rotala Fanwort Herbicides to Treat Endothall Fluridone Triclopyr Penoxsulam Flumioxazin Emergent/Ditchbank Vegetation Grasses Sedges Primrose Willow Herbicides to Treat Glyphosate 2,4-D Imazapyr

STRATEGY TO GET CONTROL  Mechanical and herbicide treatments performed as environmental conditions warrant  Coordination of these methods can maximize duration and effects of treatments  Team Effort BCB Field Station Collier County Road Maintenance Division  Monitoring improves planning and implementation  Continued Support from vegetation management section

HOW DO WE GET CONTROL

TUFF BOOMS

Miller Canal & 28 th Avenue SE Looking South

Miller Canal & Stewart Blvd. Looking South

Faka Union Canal & Stewart Blvd. looking north

Merritt Canal & Lucky Lake Structure looking north

RECOMMENDATIONS  Increase budget for chemicals by $150,000 in FY16  Increase budget for contract services by $50,000 in FY16  Increase budget for Tuff Boom installation by $35,500 in FY16 for 5 years  Replace Aquamogs with operational friendly harvesters  Enable training for involved staff – ensure methods employ best available technology

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS