BCB AQUATIC VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMBCB AQUATIC VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMBCB Board MeetingNovember 20, 2014BCB Board MeetingNovember 20, 2014

Chris Doherty, Superintendent, BCBFSFrancois LaRoche, Section Administrator, Vegetation ManagementChris Doherty, Superintendent, BCBFSFrancois 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 $1,192,582.80

Contractual Labor $26.17 $33,733.13

Cost to treat one SURFACE ACRE (using Diquat & Aquathol K)

Chemical $518.98 $668,965.22

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

+ = CONTROL

Information Maintenance

PLAN

Community Outreach

Enforcement

Supervision

Man Power

$ Money $

TUFF BOOMS

Miller Canal & 28th 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