National Aquatic Weed Education Platform for Freshwater Management
Aquatic invasive plants impose an estimated $100 million to $1 billion in annual costs on the U.S. economy through direct control expenses and economic damages, according to national economic impact assessments. AquaticWeed.org has launched a national online platform designed to provide aquatic resource managers with peer-reviewed, science-based guidance for identifying and managing problematic aquatic vegetation across all 50 states. The platform addresses the urgent need for reliable reference materials as invasive species such as Hydrilla—which historically infested more than 100,000 acres in Florida during the 1990s before intensive management reduced coverage—and Eurasian watermilfoil—present in most contiguous states—continue to threaten freshwater ecosystems, recreation, and water infrastructure nationwide. More information is available at https://aquaticweed.org/ The U.S. Department of Agriculture and affiliated research institutions recognize accurate identification as a cruci...