The Hydrophyte Volume 19 Issue 2

The South Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society

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Highlights Staying on Target - Killing the Weeds Not the Lawn

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Herbicide Application Equipment Calibration

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The Benefits of Fish Stocking to your Community

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Calendar of Events

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President’s Message Happy June! And if you are slow at reading your mail, Happy July! I hope this issue of the Hydrophyte finds everyone busy, safe and well! It is really hard to believe that we are already into June! I Googled it to confirm, we are officially half way through the year of 2015!

From this chemical manufacturer’s point of view, June is a great month. Fish are biting, weeds and algae are growing, and chemical delivery trucks are rolling! June is also great because it is my birth month (hold the applause}. Sorry, none of you are invited to my party, but don’t worry, you can bring a gift to the upcoming meeting at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.

June this year, marks the mid or half way milestone of my sentence, I mean term, as President of the SFAPMS. Six months to go Norma! Actually, my term as President of the SFAPMS has been anything but a “sentence”. It is truly my pleasure to serve the society’s membership at large and my privilege to work with the dedicated board of directors.

While I am feeling warm and fuzzy, I must say, our SFAPMS is strong. I can feel the energy!

Membership is at an all-time high and growing, with dedicated individuals and industry sponsors who are committed to the ongoing support of the society. Let me say welcome to our new members and new sponsors! I also want to give special thanks to those current sponsors who have been able to upgrade their level of support!

Our society is more than our list of members and number of sponsor dollars that we are able to bring in… Our society is our forum for practical, continued education and our forum to mix, mingle and share ideas and information with others in our close knit industry. The society continually strives to provide stimulating topics, speakers and venues for our quarterly meetings. Our upcoming meeting should not disappoint! We have another outstanding agenda in place with special appreciation to Michael Shaner with SePRO Corporation for sponsoring our lunch!

Board Members - 2015 Officers 2015 Craig Smith, President

(561) 301-8326

Linda Wolonick, Secretary/

(954) 370-0041

Treasurer Mark Weinrub, Immediate Past

(954) 972-8126

President Board Members 2015 James Boggs

(352) 521-3538

Rose Bechard-Butman

(954) 382-9766

Norma Cassinari

(334) 741-9393

Andy Fuhrman

(954) 382-9766

Lyn Gettys, PhD

(954) 577-6331

Scott Jackson

(561) 402-0682

John Selby

(954) 612-9664

Michael Shaner

(813) 267-5650

Steven Weinsier

(954) 382-9766

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

I look forward to seeing everyone at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park! Remember, always keep your nozzle pointed down- wind!

year partially goes to fund this scholarship, the

Craig Smith President / SFAPMS

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

intent of which is to promote the study of aquatics.

Cover Photo: Stephen Montgomery | Allstate Resource Management

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Credit: Stephen Montgomery | Allstate Resource Management

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The Benefits of Fish Stocking to your Community South Florida provides some of the best freshwater fishing opportunities in the world. Neighborhood sites are now designed to include recreational areas which contain ponds, lakes, wetland areas and stormwater retention basins. Many homeowners’ associations support angler groups and clubs.

Channel catfish eat many types of foods and scavenge lake bottoms. This helps to “clean” the aquatic ecosystem. Maximum weights attained by channel catfish exceed 25 pounds. Catfish can be caught with baits such as night crawlers and chicken livers.

Fish stocking programs are offered by many lake management companies. A balanced, healthy fish population can help to absorb nutrients in the water, control noxious weeds, insects and other aquatic pests. They can also provide a recreational asset for residents. Two classes of fish are commonly stocked.

These include sportfish such as largemouth bass, bream and channel fish and biological control agents including mosquito fish (which consume mosquito larvae) and weed-eating triploid grass carp. Sportfish are generally stocked in the spring when a greater variety of fish are available. Biological work fish may be stocked year round.

Triploid grass carp are a sterile, biological weed-eating fish. They must be permitted for stocking by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Carp feed on many of the undesirable exotic weeds that have become dominant in many of Florida’s waterways. Hydrilla, an exotic plant rated as the state’s number one nuisance, is on the grass carp’s preferred diet. Stocking rates are determined by the FWC.

Advantages of commonly stocked fish species are described as follows: The largemouth bass is the most popular game fish in the United States. The Florida largemouth bass holds many game fish records.

Southern bass live an average of seven years longer than their northern brothers. The benefits of bass include their consumption of insects and tadpoles, which help to control frog and toad populations.

Bream grow successfully in small ponds, large lakes and canal systems. They are easily adaptable to almost any climate and are found throughout the United States. They can be supported with commercially available food pellets and often create resident enjoyment at lakeside feeding stations.

Written by: Dawn Hill | Allstate Resource Management

Mosquitofish have desirable eating habits. They are known to eat their body weight each day in mosquito larvae. Gambusia (mosquitofish) have been introduced throughout the world to aid in the natural control of mosquitoes, especially where malaria and yellow fever are a threat. Gambusia bear their young alive, breeding through the summer.

Healthy fish populations are dependent on a balanced aquatic ecosystem. An important component of the aquatic community is aquatic plants. Native aquatic vegetation provides an essential habitat for fish foods such as insects and invertebrates, and provides shelter for juvenile fish.

South Florida lakes are an often overlooked, valuable resource. Other than providing stormwater retention areas, lakes provide an aesthetic focal point for many communities.

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Calendar of Upcoming Events Florida Lake Management Society 26th Annual Technical Symposium June 8-11, 2015 www.flms.net

SFAPMS, General Meeting Thursday, June 25, 2015 www.sfapms.org

Aquatic Plant Management Society 55th Annual Meeting July 12-15, 2015 www.apms.org

Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society 39th Annual Conference October 5-8, 2015 www.fapms.org

SFAPMS, General Meeting Thursday, October 22, 2015 www.sfapms.org

SFAPMS, Board of Directors Meeting Thursday, November 17, 2015 www.sfapms.org

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