FWC News Release
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Media contact: Joy Hill, 352-258-3426

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Orange County Public Works Department will treat the Butler Chain of Lakes for hydrilla from March 1-11 and will monitor the lakes for the next 90 days in case additional treatments are necessary.

The FWC will treat the hydrilla on lakes Down, Butler and Tibet with Sonar AS™ and Sonar Q™ herbicides, which are approved for use in lakes by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and commonly used by the FWC for hydrilla control. Lakes Louise, Isleworth, Blanche and Sheen will be treated with Aquathol™ and Galleon™, two other EPA-approved aquatic herbicides commonly used to treat lakes for hydrilla.

There are no restrictions for fishing, swimming or consumption by humans or animals. However, some vegetation could be sensitive, so the FWC recommends that lakefront residents do not use the treated water for irrigation for 14 days (Aquathol™), 50 days (Galleon™) or 100 days (Sonar AS™ and Sonar Q™). To find out suggested restrictions for specific lakes, residents should contact the FWC at 321-246-0682.

Hydrilla is an invasive, exotic aquatic plant spread easily by boats throughout the state's lakes and rivers. It clogs waterways, making recreational activities difficult or impossible and chokes out beneficial native plants. Managing and treating it is necessary for the health of Florida's waters and to enable continued recreational boating and other aquatic activities.

The FWC's Invasive Plant Management Section will post notification at the lakes' public boat ramps on the day of treatments and will remove the notification once the treatments have been completed. Various public boat ramps throughout the Butler Chain will be used for the treatments.

For questions about this treatment, contact Alicia Knecht, FWC invasive plant management regional biologist, at 321-246-0682.