FWC holding Lake Apopka hydrilla management meeting

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is holding a public meeting on hydrilla management on Lake Apopka and is inviting the community to participate. The meeting is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at Tanner Hall, 29 W. Garden Ave., Winter Garden.

The goal of this meeting is to solicit public input on the management of hydrilla in the lake. Public input from variety of user groups is important to create a balanced approach to managing aquatic plants in Lake Apopka.

Last year, 14,000 acres of the invasive aquatic weed hydrilla infested the 30,000 acres of Florida’s fourth-largest lake. FWC effectively treated 6,600 acres, but the untreated portion grew dramatically, according to Friends of Lake Apopka. To contain and curb the spread, FWC will need to treat at least 8,000 acres this year, FOLA officials said. The St. Johns River Water Management District intends to replace the invasive weed with native aquatic vegetation.

Following the staff presentations, public interaction is encouraged, especially regarding the management level, types of aquatic vegetation and key areas of interest and concern. The FWC will consider all input when developing the spring 2023 hydrilla management plan for the lake.

For information about the meeting, contact Robin Simoneaux at [email protected] or Alex Dew at [email protected].