We have periodically reported on problems on local Lake County, FL lakes with Hydrilla, and other invasive water plants.
Scott Bisping from FWC just announced their plans for some maintenance treatments on Lake Yal and Little Lake Harris (maps of the treatment areas are on bottom of this post) which is a good thing. Below is their emailed announcement:
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Good Afternoon,
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will conduct aquatic plant control on Lake Yale the week of June 15, 2020 and on Little Lake Harris the week of June 22, 2020 weather permitting.
In the Fall of 2018, Little Lake Harris had a major infestation of hydrilla causing severe navigation issues requiring a whole lake treatment using Fluridone. The treatments took place from December 2018 through January 2019. The whole lake treatment was successful in reducing the coverage of hydrilla. A recent survey revealed hydrilla re-growing in 2 locations in the lake, 1) west shoreline near Howey-in-the-Hills and 2) the south end, by Double Run. In recent workshops for the Harris Chain Management plan, stakeholders have identified the Double Run as a high priority area for fishing and waterfowl hunting. However, after completing a whole lake treatment using Fluridone, it is necessary to implement best management practices to minimize the potential expansion of a hydrilla population that is resistant to Fluridone. As part of a resistance management strategy, the FWC will treat these 2 areas using Aquathol K by the end of June 2020.
I want to assure you, the FWC is committed to working with stakeholders to make appropriate adjustments to management plans that will balance the needs of fish, wildlife and the multi-stakeholder uses of the resource. We appreciate your continued commitment and input to help develop the future Harris Chain management plan.
To find out more about the herbicides being used and if there are any use restrictions associated with these treatments, visit https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/pmars/waterbodySchedule.aspx
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/Lake.
Please do not hesitate to contact Nathalie Visscher ([email protected] or (321) 228-3364) if you have any questions about this treatment or aquatic plant management in general.
Scott Bisping
Fisheries Resource Biologist
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
601 West Woodward Ave.
Eustis, FL 32726
(352) 800-5027
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