Hydrophyte Volume 22 Issue 3 - July 2018

The South Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society

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Volume 22 Issue 3

Highlights Florida-Friendly Plants for Stormwater Pond Shorelines Rotala - An Aquatic Invader in Southern Florida "Triploid" Chinese Grass Carp Florida’s Exotic Water Birds City of Plantation Central Park

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President’s Message

Board Members - 2018 Officers 2018

Summer is here in full effect and with it, the deluge of nearly daily rain events has brought our industry to the forefront to showcase our collective expertise. What better way to learn about current events, problems and solutions than by reading this publication and supplementing it with attending the upcoming September meeting for SFAPMS? We pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop for all things aquatic weed management. To this end, there will be an excellent slate of speakers at our next meeting September 27th at City of Miramar Sunset Community Center. CEU’s and many members and attendees from across the aquatic weed management spectrum to exchange ideas, new products and services. We encourage you to attend, mingle and be part of SFAPMS! Looking forward to seeing everyone and thank you for

Scott Jackson, President (561) 402-0682 scott.jackson@syngenta.com Linda Wolonick, Secretary/Treasurer (954) 370-0041 linda@expertbizsolution.com Norma Swann, Immediate Past President (334) 741-9393 norma.swann@alligare.com Board Members 2018 Rose Bechard-Butman (954) 519-0317 rbechardbutman@broward.org James Boggs (352) 521-3538 Hughie Cucurullo (305) 224-3562

Lyn Gettys, PhD (954) 577-6331

your continued support!

All the best,

Rory Roten (321) 890-4367

President

hcucurullo@avcaquatic.com

Andy Fuhrman (954) 382-9766 afuhrman@allstatemanagement.com

Dail Laughinghouse (954) 577-6382

Scott Jackson

boggsj@helenachemical.com

Dharmen Setaram (407) 670-4094

lgettys@ufl.edu hlaughinghouse@ufl.edu roryr@sepro.com dsetaram@landolakes.com

Steven Weinsier (954) 382-9766 sweinsier@allstatemanagement.com

The Francis E. “Chil” Rossbach Scholarship Fund Funds from the scholarship are used to help defray costs for students taking classes related to the study of aquatic environmental sciences or related areas. The scholarship is open to anyone, and all are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted throughout the year and the scholarship awarded when a suitable candidate is found. Money raised by the Society during the year partially goes to fund this scholarship, the intent of which is to promote the study of aquatics.

For an application, please go to www.sfapms.org.

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SFWMD Unveils Online Public Environmental Database Training May 8, 2018 West Palm Beach, FL – The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) today unveiled a series of 12 online videos to help the public learn how to use SFWMD's expansive DBHydro environmental database.

"This Governing Board is committed to following sound science and providing the public with access to the science that informs our water management decisions," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Federico Fernandez. "This innovative and easy to understand online video training series further expands taxpayers' ability to review the scientific data gathered on their water resources.

DBHydro, which has been the repository for a significant amount of environmental data for years, is now readily accessible online and the public has accessibility to vast amounts of historical and current data on South Florida's water resources such as hydrological measurements and water quality sampling results. The database also provides access to groundwater data for specific wells and multimedia videos. DBHydro contains approximately 30 million hydrological measurements and approximately 5 million data points of water quality data.

While the online training is new, District has offered in-person training classes to the public for years. To expand public access the classes have been converted to a series of 12 online training videos that will educate viewers on the types of data available, how SFWMD collects data and the best way to search the database to obtain information.

The videos are available on SFWMD's website at www.sfwmd.gov/dbhydrotraining.

To access DBHydro visit: www.sfwmd.gov/dbhydro.

DBHydro Sample Video Featured on the Website

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Florida’s Exotic Water Birds Articles and Illustrations by Steve Carbol Lake and Wetland Management Florida is quite literally a wet and wild place, a state of rich wetlands, extensive shorelines and a vast network of criss-crossing canals. As such, it is backdrop to a colorful cast of native wetland birds.

However, our native wildlife is increasingly at odds with competitive new arrivals, invasive exotics introduced, both deliberately and unintentionally, by humans. Though we humans are to blame for the presence of these exotic species and these birds are simply doing their best to survive in a foreign land, some of these species are causing significant negative environmental impacts. Some of these impacts (somewhat fittingly) affect us humans more than our native wildlife. Some effects are quite apparent while others are less obvious and more insidious. What follows is a brief introduction to some of the more commonly encountered invasive exotic water birds that have become established and the effects they are having on our wetlands here in the Sunshine State.

Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) - Native to eastern Asia, the two main domestic types are the heavy-bodied (and oddly-named because it is most definitely NOT African in origin) “African Goose”, and the more lightly-built “Chinese Goose”. This species is immediately identified by the knob on its upper bill and domestic varieties sometimes develop a chin dewlap as well and may also appear in a white form.

These are the only domestic goose breeds not to have arisen from the wild Greylag Goose, though they sometimes hybridize with other geese species. The domesticated variety is not established in the wild and any individuals encountered have escaped, or more likely been released. It is often found in a semi-tame condition close to humans where it grazes on lawns and may solicit humans for food.

Feral birds may locally soil walkways and water with their droppings, increasing turbidity and nutrient loading. Interestingly, the wild Swan Goose is poorly known and listed as Vulnerable in its native Asia.

Greylag Goose (Anser anser) - Native to Europe and northern Asia, this species is the ancestor of most domestic goose breeds such as the gray French Toulouse and white German Embden (or Emden) breeds. Domestic forms are typically larger and heavier than wild birds and appear in colors ranging from the wild-type gray to completely white and multicolored. Domestic forms may also exhibit tufted topknots or frizzled plumage and are even bill knobs from being crossed with domestic Swan Geese.

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Feral birds sometimes hybridize with other species of wild geese. Individuals encountered in Florida are usually semi-tame, usually remaining in close proximity to humans, grazing on lawns and golf courses and even begging handouts. Frequently released by humans, this goose hasn’t establishing sustainable wild breeding populations in Florida but can locally contribute to water pollution and befoul public areas with their waste.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) - Native to North America, Canada Geese historically wintered in small numbers in northern Florida but did not breed in the Sunshine State. Humans introduced this species into the northern part of the state and these introduced birds did not learn to migrate, remained year-round and have now established sizable nonmigratory populations that compete with native wetland birds for resources and are a messy nuisance at parks, golf courses and community waterways. Several subspecies of varying sizes exist but those most commonly encountered as feral populations in Florida are intergrades of the big Atlantic, Giant and Interior subspecies. Introduced Canada Geese are a problem abroad in western and northern Europe, New Zealand and even here in the United States where they interbreed and dilute the gene pools of other goose species including the Snow Goose, Barnacle Goose and Cackling Goose.

page 11 Incidentally, the proper name of this species is CANADA Goose and individuals may only accurately be referred to as a CANADIAN goose if they are indeed Canadian, having actually hatched in Canada.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) - Native to central Asia and eastern Europe, introduced populations are found around the world. Weighing up to about 30 pounds, this is one of the world’s heaviest flying birds and is spectacular in flight. Though it does hiss and produce a variety of low squeaks and purring sounds, it doesn’t trumpet, whoop or bugle like other more vocal swan species and thus became known as the “Mute Swan”. Often introduced into parks, shopping complex lakes and communities for its graceful, dignified bearing, this big bird aggressively chases other wetland birds, wildlife out of their nesting territories, sometimes drowning and killing them devastates native aquatic plant communities with its ravenous appetite and prodigious reach, and pollutes the water with its copies droppings and sediment stirred up by its big webbed feet. A detrimental invasive species in the Northeast United States, it is also established in New Zealand, Australia and can be found breeding in Florida, often reverting to a semi-wild condition.

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) - Native to tropical Africa, this bird’s population is exploding in Florida and it is quickly becoming a common site in the Sunshine State, even eclipsing the ubiquitous domestic Muscovy in some areas. Considered sacred by ancient Egyptians, this bird was domesticated by ancient Egyptians and appears regularly in historic artwork in murals, sculptures and papyrus scrolls. It obtains a large portion of its diet by grazing on land but may also been seen dabbling in water, swimming buoyantly with its rear held high.

Random Facts from the FWC: 1. Wildlife viewing in Florida supports 44,623 full and part-time jobs.

2. The brain of a dolphin is larger than the brain of a human.

3. American alligators have 78 to 82 teeth and may lose and replace 2,000 to 3,000 teeth in a lifetime.

4. The American crocodile is an endangered species success story. Since 1975 their numbers have increased from fewer than 300 to more than 1,500 adults.

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The Egyptian Goose is becoming a nuisance at golf courses, parks and communities where it aggressively outcompetes native wildlife for resources, defends its territory against other wildlife and humans and soils walkways with its abundant droppings. It is also established in western Europe and is also growing more numerous in Texas.

Despite its name, the Egyptian Goose is more accurately a large duck, most closely related to shelducks.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - Native to the Northern Hemisphere, the sleek wild ancestral form of this bird differs wildly from the colorful spectrum of domestic derivations. The Mallard is the world’s most numerous introduced waterfowl and is now found worldwide. Some domestic breeds like the Chinese Pekin and French Rouen have been developed as heavybodied giants for meat production while others like the tiny Dutch Call Duck were bred for portability by hunters to use as living decoys or the East Indian Runner Duck that look like slender living bowling pins and walk rather than waddle. Wild Mallards exhibit strong sexual dimorphism with drakes showing the characteristic green head, yellow bill, chestnut-maroon breast and curly black tail feathers while the females are dressed in a more subdued palette of dappled brown and buff with orange bills. Domestic Mallards may possess topknots and display any number of colors and patterns including the wild Mallard pattern, beetle green, black, white, and shades of gray and brown. Wild Mallards are sometimes stocked for hunting purposes but many feral domestic Mallards in Florida are barnyard escapes or releases. The world over, introduced Mallards’ biggest environmental threat lies in the fact that they are lovers, not fighters, and regularly hybridize with native duck species and dilute their gene pools. In Florida, introduced Mallards unfortunately commonly interbreed with native Mottled Ducks and hybrids are seen regularly.

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Muscovy (Cairina moschata) - Native to Central America and northern South America, these Quasimodos of duckdom are a ubiquitous sight in many Florida communities and parks where they often learn to panhandle for handouts and can contaminate water and walking paths with their large, substantial droppings. Many Florida feral domestic Muscovy ducklings are unfortunately purchased by well-meaning parents as Easter “peeps” and then quickly outgrow their owners’ enclosures and affections and are unceremoniously dumped at the nearest retention pond. Domestic Muscovy ducks have been bred by Native American tribes since pre-Columbian times. Developed mainly for meat production, domestic birds are heavy-bodied and overdeveloped, both in size and in the warty bare red facial caruncles that surround their faces. They also exhibit a variety of colors, from black to white. The friendly, hulking domestic birds are a far cry from the spooky, sleek dark wild Muscovy ducks that haunt Latin American gallery jungles, floodplains and riparian flood forest as far north as Texas’ lower Rio Grande Valley. The name “Muscovy” is somewhat shrouded in mystery and its true roots are lost in antiquity, but a common explanation is that the domestic birds were imported from South America sometime between 1550 and 1600 and traded in Europe by the Company of Merchant Adventurers to New Lands, also known as the “Muscovite Company” or “Muscovy Company”.

Alternatively, the big, bare-faced ducks were seen as novelties in Europe at that time and given a name from a far-away place such as Moscow, Russia, also known as the Muscovy Region, to seem more exotic and thus more marketable. Either origin is plausible.

After all, turkeys aren’t from Turkey and guineafowl aren’t exclusively from Guinea.

Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) Native to the Old World, this big rail is related to Florida’s native American Coot, Common Gallinule and Purple Gallinule. Indeed, the larger Swamphen looks superficially like a Purple Gallinule on massive doses of steroids. Formerly lumped as one species

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containing many regional races or subspecies, the bird once known as the “Purple Swamphen” has been split into six very similar species across its extensive Old World range. First discovered in Pembroke Pines, Florida in 1996, the bird likely first escaped from a private bird collection. Even with early aggressive control efforts, the Swamphen’s population exploded and it is now common across much of south Florida where it competes with native gallinules, least bitterns and other imperiled wetland birds for habitat and resources. The full impact of this big exotic rail is being intensively studied and is still not fully understood. It is believed that the majority of swamphens in Florida represent the Grey-headed Swamphen (P. poliocephalus), which occurs naturally from the Middle East and Indian subcontinent to southern China and northern Thailand. Some Florida Swamphens seem to exhibit vibrant dark blue heads, more representative of the Western Swamphen (P. porphyrio) from southwest Europe and northwest Africa (or another blueheaded species/subspecies), and perhaps the genes of more than one race are represented in the Florida population.

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2018 Calendar of Events 2018 SFAPMS Board of Directors Meeting Dates Thursday, September 6, 2018 Thursday, November 29, 2018 2018 SFAPMS General Meeting Dates Thursday, September 27, 2018 Florida Lake Management Society (FLMS) 2018 Conference Tuesday, August 28, 2018 Friday, August 31, 2018 Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society (FAPMS) 2018 Conference Monday, October 15, 2018 Thursday, October 18, 2018

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"Triploid" Chinese Grass Carp Credit: UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

Grass Carp Sterility

Chinese grass carp are herbivorous fish that have been purposely introduced into many Florida lakes and ponds to control aquatic weed growth. For many, grass carp seem like a good solution for aquatic weeds: the fish are relatively inexpensive and they consume problem plants, especially hydrilla.

However, there are many factors to take into account when considering grass carp as a biological control method for invasive aquatic plants. While they are an effective and affordable solution for many lakes, grass carp are not a panacea. Under certain circumstances, they can create their own set of problems.

Physical Characteristics Most people are surprised to learn that grass carp are members of the minnow family. Grass carp grow to an average of 15-20 pounds and 20-35 inches in length. In larger lakes with large numbers of plants, they can grow up to 50-60 pounds and exceed 50 inches in length. In Florida, the largest reported grass carp weighed 75 pounds.

Also known as white amur, Chinese grass carp sometimes appear silver in color, but often display an olive green or dark gray hue on top with light gold or pale yellow sides. Their belly is silvery or bluish-white and fins are light green or gray. Unusually large fish scales are another distinguishing characteristic.

Normally, grass carp require free-flowing river systems to spawn and produce eggs, so it is believed they don't pose a major threat to lake systems. However, grass carp have been known to escape from stocked lakes or ponds into neighboring waterbodies; this may explain the presence of numerous breeding populations in a number of states along the Mississippi River. In Florida, three adult fish, including one gravid female, have been captured in the Suwannee River.

When grass carp are able to produce viable eggs, they are said to be "diploid" – they have the right number of chromosomes to reproduce. Florida law dictates that grass carp used for weed control must be sterile, or "triploid."

"Triploid" Chinese grass carp are hatchery-raised fish that have been sterilized by “shocking” fertilized eggs with drastic changes in temperature or hydrostatic pressure. The result is an extra chromosome in the egg, leaving the fish unable to produce viable eggs.

This technique is used to eliminate reproduction in Florida waters.

Sterilization techniques are not 100% effective. One study showed that milt from some triploid males was used to successfully fertilize eggs from normal diploid females. Other studies have shown that triploid grass carp are able to produce viable eggs and sperm, although in very low numbers.

Because of these anomalies, some scientists suggest that every single fish be genetically tested by blood or tissue analysis before stocking them into a lake. A number of states in the U.S. have taken a more drastic approach and have banned grass carp altogether — both diploid and triploid.

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Grass Carp in Florida Chinese grass carp were originally imported and stocked into Florida lakes in 1972 as part of an experimental effort to control hydrilla. When stocked in high enough numbers, the fish proved to be extremely effective.

However, when attempts were made to remove the fish, managers and biologists discovered the carp's uncanny ability to outsmart virtually every type of fishing technique. Nets, hooks-and-lines, electro-shocking, and poison baits were minimally successful, especially after the first attempts. It soon became apparent that once released, grass carp were nearly impossible to remove. There are still no easy ways to remove grass carp from a stocked lake.

Plants Preferred by the Grass Carp

Plants Not Preferred by the Grass Carp

hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata

water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes

coontail Ceratophyllum demersum

water lettuce Pistia stratiotes

muskgrass Chara spp.

water lilies Nymphaea odorata, N. mexicana

naiad Najas spp.

torpedo grass Panicum repens

slender spikerush Eleocharis baldwinii

hygrophila Hygrophila polysperma

jointed spikerush Eleocharis interstincta

cattail Typha spp.

Permit Required In Florida, only triploid grass carp are allowed and a permit is always required, even when stocking privately owned waters. Permits may be obtained by contacting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Grass Carp Considerations Aside from being hard to catch, grass carp have other characteristics to be considered: • Chinese grass carp are not selective about the plants they eat. Once their preferred plants are consumed, they can eat every plant in a waterbody, including submersed, emersed, and floating plants.

They’ve even been observed wriggling out of the water to eat grasses along the shoreline.

• At low stocking rates (two to five fish per acre), it can take from six to twelve months before plants noticeably decrease in abundance. And because grass carp generally consume plants starting with the roots instead of the leaves and flowers, their

effectiveness is sometimes underestimated. When this happens, people have been known to stock more fish into the lake. In some instances, this has resulted in “over-stocking” and the unintended consumption of all plants, leaving the lake devoid of vegetation.

• If grass carp are stocked in high numbers, there is the potential for a lake to change from a clear-water, plant-dominated system to a murky, algae- dominated system. This happens when macrophytes (larger plants) are consumed by grass carp, and algae (phytoplankton) expand to become the dominant plants within the system. Within weeks or months, the water clarity (link to water clarity) can be significantly reduced as algae increase in number and are suspended in the water. This gives the water an opaque green color and can appear as a scum on the surface of the water. Aquatic plants also serve as stabilizers for bottom sediments. Once they are removed, there is increased potential for sediments to become disturbed and re-suspended in the water, further decreasing clarity. This dynamic is sometimes overlooked and, as a result, there have been disappointed lakefront homeowners over the years.

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WEBSITES PRINT MARKETING Jodi Miller jodi@interactivedesignandmedia.com www.interactivedesignandmedia.com 561.843.1376

www.sfapms.org • Grass carp can live for 10 years or more. The older they are, the larger they become and the more food they will consume. If high numbers of fish are stocked, this can translate into the loss of a tremendous amount of plant biomass within a lake.

For more information, view the following paper: The Water Quality and Fishery of Lake Baldwin, Florida: 4 Years after Macrophyte Removal by Grass Carp.

Stocking Rates Ever since Chinese grass carp were introduced to Florida waters, efforts have been made to develop a formula to accurately predict the appropriate number of grass carp for stocking purposes, based on lake size and plant coverage. The ideal goal is to stock just enough fish so that aquatic weed consumption slightly exceeds aquatic weed growth.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), this can be achieved with approximately two to five fish per acre of submersed vegetation. However, according to another group of lake experts, this formula has produced mixed results. In fact, when using Florida LAKEWATCH data, one study shows a breaking point for the use of grass carp in aquatic plant control.* When stocked in high numbers (greater than 10-12 fish per acre of aquatic vegetation), grass carp were efficient at eating virtually every submersed plant in a lake. In some instances, they ignored a few less palatable plant species (water lilies, bacopa and water hyacinths), but the rest of the plants were

page 19 17 effectively controlled. When stocked in lower numbers (less than 10-12 carp per acre of vegetation), the growth rate of the plants was often greater than the consumption rates of the fish and very little plant control was achieved.

According to Florida LAKEWATCH's Mark Hoyer, this "all or nothing" situation isn't always a bad thing. If the goal is to completely control the growth of nuisance plants in a lake, grass carp provide an economical long-term solution without the use of herbicides. Also, grass carp are particularly useful in small urban lakes, where submersed vegetation is not as imperative for fish habitat.

How to Remove Grass Carp When faced with hundreds of unwanted grass carp in Lake McMeekin in 1990, one individual tried to remove them using hook and line. He began by tossing soybean chum into the water from his dock.

He then used molded dough balls made from uncooked biscuit mix. Using this technique, the angler and his neighbors reportedly caught more than 600 grass carp. Other baits recommended include traditional bread balls, dog food, corn, celery, or live worms. * Sandra G. Hanlon, et. al. 2000. Evaluation of macrophyte control in 38 Florida lakes using triploid grass carp. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management. 38: 48-54.

South Florida Aquatic Plant Management Family Photos

Jeff Hutchinson and Wife at his Retirement Party

Holly Sutter at the FWC Non-Native Fish Roundup

Rare Fruit and Vegetable Council of Broward County located in Southwest Ranches

Gerald Adrian, Jeremy Slade Scott Jackson, Troy Knowlton at Green Cay Nature Center

Submit your photos to Colleen Sullivan at CSullivan@allstatemanagement.com to be featured in the next Hydrophyte Magazine!

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Jerk Catfish Recipe Credit: Food & Wine (www.foodandwine.com)

The Jamaican spice treatment called jerk isn't just for meat and chicken; it's great on fish too. Rub the spice paste on catfish fillets and broil for a crisp, spicy coating. Though the sesame seeds aren't traditional, they add a pleasant crunch and rich flavor.

Ingredients • 1/3 cup chopped onion • 1 clove garlic, smashed • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds • 2 teaspoons brown sugar • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme • 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt • 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne • 2 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil • 1/2 teaspoon vinegar • 2 pounds catfish fillets

How to Make It Step 1 In a blender, puree the onion, garlic, and sesame seeds with the brown sugar, allspice, thyme, nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of the salt, the black pepper, cayenne, oil, and vinegar. Heat the broiler. Lightly oil a broiler pan or baking sheet.

Step 2 Sprinkle both sides of the catfish fillets with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and put them on the prepared baking sheet, skinned-side down. Spread the spice mixture over the fish in an even layer.

Step 3 Broil the fish, about 6 inches from the heat if possible, until well-browned and just done, about 5 minutes for 3/4-inch-thick fillets.

Notes Fish Alternatives Though catfish is lean and firm, those qualities aren't imperative here. You can use fillets of a different nature, such as bluefish, red snapper, or wolffish.

Suggested Pairing Make your beverage choice as simple and casual as this dish—and look for something that can take the heat. Try either a White Zinfandel, a Rosé, or your favorite beer.

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Working In the Public Eye Credit: Stephen Montgomery - Allstate Resource Management

It’s never easy to do a job with someone watching over your shoulder. Someone interrupting your train of thought, asking questions, and criticizing what you’re doing. For an aquatic applicator, this is more a question of: How do I handle this when it happens?

Rather than: What do I do if it happens? Part of this is because the waterways that are our workplace are such an integral part of everyday life in Florida. The focus on aquatic recreation, abundance of waterfront homes and the importance placed on our stormwater management needs, puts an applicator in the public eye on a daily basis.

One would think our industry would benefit from the increase in public concern for the environment. We are, after all, maintaining our aquatic resources to promote their function, sustainability, and aesthetics.

Unfortunately, the “green movement” combined with a lack of public knowledge about aquatic weed management can mistakenly create an adversarial attitude toward applicators and the work we do. The issue is compounded by a steady flow of misrepresented information through the media and internet. Generalizations about the evils of chemicals in the environment has translated to mistrust of anyone using them, regardless of the situation.

It’s not likely that a spontaneous, widespread change in people’s understanding will happen any time soon.

We need to be prepared to deal with individuals that may voice disapproval with our work, and take an active role in educating them. Over the years I’ve learned some basic guidelines and tactics to follow when speaking to the public while on the job.

Be polite – It should be common sense, but that’s easier said than done half way through a long day in the middle of August. Before you get too involved in any conversation, take a second to compose yourself.

Being argumentative will not help a situation and does not present you as an experienced professional. You should be confident in your answers but not condescending to the person your speaking with.

Understand their point of view - Sometimes people are just curious what you’re doing. Most people don’t have the familiarity with your job that others in our field do. You see PPE as an uncomfortable but necessary part of your job. They see it and concerns about their safety arise. The average person’s knowledge about aquatic herbicides is probably confined to something they read on Facebook last week. Remember you are working near where they and their families live and play. People tend to fear what they don’t understand. Take that into consideration when approached by concerned residents.

Choose your words – Correct terminology can help to clear up public misconceptions about our job. Words like “chemical” and “killed” are ambiguous and create a sense of fear. Explaining that we only use herbicides approved for use in the water, and that the weeds have been specifically treated helps to convey a better image. It’s important to show the public that aquatic vegetation management is very careful and deliberate, and not reckless use of random chemicals. Our choice of words when talking to people we come into contact with is a big part of that process.

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Establish a connection – Most residents and homeowners don’t realize how important aquatic vegetation management is here in Florida.

Establishing a connection between what we do and the benefits to their lives demonstrates that applicators are working on their behalf. Explaining how successful vegetation management programs maintain flood control systems and recreational waters, while improving aesthetics of communities shows them they have a vested interest in what we do.

Make the weeds the bad guy – The years and years of hard work and environmental success go unnoticed, but the rare mistake gets instant attention.

Applicators often get swept up in the public’s fervor to “save the environment” and assign blame to careless offenders. In the rush to put a face to environmental damage, it’s often overlooked that: The weeds are the bad guys here. The amount of habitat and income lost due to exotic plant species rarely makes the headline news. Their invasive nature is not apparent to residents because our efforts keep the invasion at bay (usually without their knowledge).

Educating residents on the plants we target and the damage they’re capable of can improve public support for our work.

Know when to leave – Despite your best efforts, some people are just not interested in having their minds changed. Some folks are going to cling to their pre-conceived notions tighter than a drowning person clings to a life preserver.

Being polite and professional doesn’t mean you have to stand there being berated by a belligerent individual. If their mind is made up, then you trying to convince them otherwise will probably only aggravate them more.

That’s why it’s important to realize when a situation won’t be resolved in the moment and politely make your exit. Let them know that their concerns are understood and give them the contact information for a supervisor or customer service department.

Business cards and printed informational materials can often help make a transition to leaving. When you return to your office be sure to follow up with the appropriate people so that they know to expect a call and what the situation is so they aren’t blindsided.

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Sometimes, as aquatic resource managers in Florida, we have to be our own public relations department.

Avoiding confrontation at any cost only perpetuates the misconception that we’re doing something wrong.

A little explanation can go long way toward fostering a broader understanding of our job and its necessity.

It’s important that we don’t take criticism of what we do personally, particularly since it is often misinformed. We make an effort to get licensed and stay trained. We work hard to ensure that the job gets done right and Florida’s waterways are protected.

Don’t be afraid to let people know it.

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