Field Operations Program

Airboat on lake with aquatic plants water hyacinth hydrilla

Section biologists survey Florida's public waterways each year to determine the abundance of invasive aquatic plant species such as water hyacinth (center photo) and hydrilla (right photo) as well as other aquatic plant species.

Bureau Services:

About the Program

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 requires all persons (including lake and river front homeowners) or public agencies intending to control, eradicate, remove, or otherwise alter any aquatic weeds or plants in waters of the state to obtain a permit from the FWC unless an exemption for the activity has been provided in statute or rule.

The Section's Field Operations Sub-Section maintains offices strategically placed throughout the state. Bureau 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 FWC
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

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