Evaluation and research of impacts of mechanical weed harvesting in Lake Okeechobee. Final report.

Abstract

This report describes a research project that was conducted to assess the environmental impacts of mechanical harvesting of Hydrilla verticillata. The study site was on the northwestern shore of Lake Okeechobee where approximately 500 acres of Hydrilla were harvested. The harvesting and subsequent upland disposal of material was performed as a separate demonstration project to evaluate the nutrient removal potential of this technique and to optimize operational costs. Specific impacts and site characteristics to be evaluated included site biomass, water quality, phytoplankton and primary productivity, community metabolism, sediment chemistry, benthic infauna and epiphyte communities, and larval and juvenile fish populations. A literature survey of pertinent topics was also included.