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Purpose of this Book
The purpose of this book, published in August 2014, is to deliver up-to-date information on hydrilla management tactics that are available for developing hydrilla integrated management plans. Once introduced into a freshwater body, the invasive aquatic plant hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata [L.f.] Royle) can cause damaging infestations that impact stakeholders from various user groups with different interests in the affected water body. These user groups range from lakefront homeowners to recreational visitors to aquatic plant managers to businesses that support ecotourism.
The focus of the book is on hydrilla management in Florida, although the described tactics are known and used in many of the 28 states in the United States with hydrilla infestations. Divided in seven chapters, the book guides the reader through a general introduction to the problems associated with hydrilla; identification of the plant; instructions for early detection of infestations including federal and state laws and regulations; detailed descriptions of available control tactics; proposals for integrated management plans; descriptions of insects and fish associated with hydrilla; and supplementary information including contacts for assistance when readers encounter infestations.
Acknowledgments
Funding for the development and printing of this book was provided by the US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program (grant 2010-02825). The production of this guide would not have been possible without this generous financial support
