Become part of the solution to stop herbicide spraying on our river. Water hyacinth, though strikingly beautiful, is highly invasive, multiplying quickly in the hot stagnant waters. It creates impenetrable mats that block boats, compete with native plants and reduce dissolved oxygen. Controlling this plant is a serious and complicated matter. One cannot simply harvest the plant for one’s garden and pond. Doing so is illegal, potentially spreading this plant into new watersheds. Only property owners on the river can get permits to remove the plants onto their land to dry. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is the agency charged with the control of this plant and their response to hyacinth mats is to contract an applicator with an airboat to spray Diquat or other herbicide on the plants.
Our Santa Fe River has volunteers ready to help remove this plant but we need the help of property owners along the river to apply for the permit. Sharon Stinson with the FWC (863-534-7074) will help you with the application process. Once your permit is secure, contact OSFR and we will activate the ‘Cabbage Patch team’ to pull the plant out on your land to dry.
Water-hyacinth populations can double in 2 weeks.
If you own property along the river and don’t want herbicide sprayed, I urge you to apply for a permit allowing you to remove the plants from the waterway.
We need riparian properties to get permits.
Help us help you stop the herbicide spray.
OSFR President Joanne Tremblay
joanne.tremblay@oursantaferiver.org
“Giving Our River A Voice”
