West Palm Beach, FL
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Each day, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and their contract partners fight to control the invasive plants that threaten the ecosystem and land owned by South Florida's taxpayers. Successfully combating these invasive plants' far-reaching effects is critically important to the strategic goals of providing flood control and restoring water quality and natural areas.
Contractors working for the SFWMD and FWC continued their efforts last week to control invasive plants such as Old World climbing fern and Melaleuca in the 144,000-acre Water Conservation Area 1 (which is also part of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge).
The ground crews are spraying the invasive plants and cutting them by hand from tree islands in the southeast region of the conservation area. More crews will begin battling the invasive plants in the southwest section of the conservation area this week.
District staff will be conducting aerial reconnaissance over the Conservation Area in the coming weeks to assess the spread of these plants, particularly Old World climbing fern, which threaten the entire Everglades ecosystem.
District biologists have developed an integrated approach to invasive species management utilizing tools such as chemical, mechanical and biological agents to combat the spread of invasive species on District-owned land.
The District has one of the nation's largest invasive plant management programs; battling over 70 species of non-indigenous plants including melaleuca, Brazilian pepper as well as floating and submerged aquatic vegetation like hydrilla and water hyacinth that can clog waterways and flood control structures.
Since 2007 the SFWMD in cooperation with its state partners have spent more than $186 million battling invasive species District-wide. Last year alone the District spent $19 million combating invasive species throughout South Florida. This sustained and collaborative effort has improved the hydrology and habitat quality across the Everglades.
"To control invasive species, you have to dedicate the proper financial and physical resources and utilize them effectively," said SFWMD Land Resources Bureau Chief Rory Feeney. "Throughout the District we are hitting invasive species with every effective means at our disposal because we understand the importance of keeping them under control."
The efforts of the District partnering with other agencies is making significant progress in the fight against invasive species. For example, large sections of the Everglades and the marshes of Lake Okeechobee once overrun with melaleuca trees are under maintenance control thanks to these ongoing programs.
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