Post on 17-Dec-2015
transcript
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