Throughout the County, our Invasive Plant Management division works to protect parks and local public waterbodies from exotic and invasive plant species that pose a threat to the habitat of the ecosystem. Only water bodies that are normally accessible by floating vessels fall under this divisions maintenance responsibility. Routine maintenance application of chemical herbicides is done to help reduce vegetation growth in canals, ponds, lakes and ditches to minimize drainage flow restrictions and assure design or natural conveyance capacity. All herbicide chemicals are approved through both Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Highlands County is one of many local government agencies’ to be approved for FWC’s state-funded program. The program designs, funds, coordinates, and contracts invasive nonnative aquatic plant control efforts in Florida regarding public waters. FWC also ensures that beneficial native aquatic plants in our Florida ponds, lakes and rivers are protected through its permitting programs and funding research. This is a list of Highlands County state-maintained water bodies.
For more information concerning FWC’s Aquatic Plant Management Program please use this link:
FWC Aquatic Plant Management Program Enhancements
Learn more about UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants at the following link:
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Any questions or concerns regarding water bodies near you, please contact Chris Mayhew, Invasive Plant Management supervisor. He can be contacted at (863) 402-7423 or through the Road & Bridge main phone number at (863) 402-6529.