Balancing Act: Unveiling Public Perspectives on Taming Invasive Aquatic Plants

Aquatic invasive species threaten U.S. freshwater bodies throughout the country. One of the most prevalent and prevailing of these is hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillate), which spans from Florida all the way up to Maine, and as far west as California [2]. The state of Florida alone spent $125 million from 2008 – 2015 to manage aquatic invasive species, $66 million of which went toward managing hydrilla [1]. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is estimated to spend $15 million annually on managing hydrilla [3]. This submerged weed is primarily managed through cost effective, safe aquatic herbicides and more costly mechanical harvesting. Due to the prevalence of hydrilla, understanding stakeholder perceptions regarding its management is critical to its successful control. This infographic displays Florida’s stakeholder perceptions around aquatic herbicide and mechanical harvesting usage, which can be utilized as a model for other states as well. Data analysis of 3,000 survey responses concluded that a majority of stakeholders are concerned about both the use of aquatic herbicides and mechanical harvesting. However, they were more concerned about aquatic herbicide application than employing mechanical harvesting. Respondents’ main concern over aquatic herbicide use was the accumulation of chemicals in the lakes upon which it was applied; the main concern over mechanical harvesting was the cost of harvesting operations. When asked what management practice they would prefer FWC to use, a majority of respondents indicated that FWC should use both aquatic herbicides and mechanical harvesting.