Management Timetable

excerpted from the Status of the Aquatic Plant Maintenance Program in Florida Public Waters

Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2007-2008

Management Timetable

Plant management programs are developed each year for public waterbodies. Government contractors and FWC field biologists draft requests that are reviewed by local, state and federal agency personnel and other stakeholders that have authorities or have expressed interest in invasive and nuisance plant management in public waters. Reviewers then meet to establish management plans, priorities and budgets for the ensuing year. As new problems arise or if anticipated problems do not materialize, then funds are reallocated among contractors to accommodate these changes. In this way, the program maintains statewide standards while adapting quickly to local and regional needs.

Administrative and Management Timetable for Aquatic Plant Control

• October 1 - February 1
  Managers and contractors meet to develop large-scale hydrilla control projects.

• November 15 - April 15
  Most large-scale hydrilla control projects are initiated.

• February 1 - April 10
  Contractors and FWC biologists develop plant management requests and budgets for the ensuing fiscal year for public waters.

• April 10 - 15
  Compile information from draft workplan requests into database.

• April 20 - 15
  Consider comments, develop workplans for each water body and set priorities for ensuing fiscal year during meetings with contractors, agency staffs, and other interested persons. Reallocate current year funding if necessary.

• May 15 - June 30
  Execute task assignments.

• July 1 - June 30
  Manage aquatic plants pursuant to contracts and task assignments - revise and reallocate funds to adapt to changing conditions.

• April 1 - November 15
  IPMS field biologists inventory aquatic plants in public waters to monitor control impacts and revise management plans.

• November 15 - December 15
  Compile and verify data from plant inventories and management invoices.

• December 15 - 31
  Prepare annual report and ensuing fiscal year budget requests after analyzing plant inventory and management information.

A collaboration of the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida, and the Invasive Plant Management Section of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.