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Field Operations Program

Section Services: 

• Need a FWC aquatic plant permit?
• Need to contact a FWC regional biologist about an aquatic plant problem?

About Aquatic Vegetation

Aquatic vegetation plays an important role in maintaining and protecting water quality, providing shoreline stabilization and ensuring balanced fish and wildlife populations. Therefore, Florida law (F.S. 369.20) requires all persons intending to control or remove aquatic vegetation from the waters of the state to obtain a permit from the Commission unless an exemption for the activity has been provided in statute or rule (Chapters 62F-20).

The Section's Field Operations Section maintains offices strategically placed throughout the state. Section staff in these offices provide the following functions:

• Provide extension/education services concerning aquatic plant management
• Annually survey the aquatic plant communities in approximately 450 public water bodies comprising 1.25 million acres
• Direct, review and monitor the control of non-native aquatic plants by contractors of the Commission
• Assist and coordinate with federal, state and local governments on issues related to aquatic plant management
• Regulate aquatic plant management activities through 2 permitting programs
• Perform compliance/enforcement activities related to aquatic plant management

For questions or more more information about the Section's field operations program, please call 850-245-2809.

• Contact Us
• Aquatic Plant Management
• Uplands Plant Management
• Field Operations Program
• Research Program
• Regional Offices
• Invasive Species Working Group
• Links

Field Operations Annual Reports:

• 2001-02 Operations (1.5MB)
• 2002-03 Operations (2.3MB)
• 2003-04 Operations (1.3MB)
• 2004-05 Operations (3MB)

Additional Information about Florida's aquatic and wetland plant species:

Table of Invasive Plant List and Laws in 13 Southern States

Circular 4 - Plants for Lakefront Revegetation (5MB)

Circular 18 - How was Hydrilla Introduced into Florida? (171KB)

Circular 21- Rules for a Green Thumb at the Coast (207KB)