melaleuca in the everglades mike bodle vegetation management division south florida water management...

Melaleuca in the EvergladesMelaleuca in the Everglades

Mike Bodle

Vegetation Management Division

South Florida Water Management District

Early Awareness

• Recognized as a problem in the early 70’s (FL FWCC)

• Skepticism concerning ability to control

“There is very real potential that all the sawgrass in South Florida could eventually become melaleuca forest.”

-Mark Maffei, 1989

“We’re basically talking everything in South Florida except the coastal ridge.”

-Ted Center on melaleuca

distribution in South Florida, 1989

“It’s a tree from hell.”

-Dan Thayer, 1990

“Only a continued and cohesive blitzkrieg will achieve solid melaleuca control.”

-Mike Bodle, 1990

“Melaleuca is a biological disaster for South Florida.”

-Congressman E. Clay Shaw, 1990

“Melaleuca quinquenervia is now poised to expand throughout the Everglades. The time for integrated management of the tree has come. Combined efforts and methods will, hopefully, reverse this weed’s expansion.”

-Melaleuca Management Plan for South Florida, 1990

“The current level of melaleuca infestation in South Florida and the potential for continued alteration of natural habitats by this invasive biological pollutant signal that the need for a statewide melaleuca management program is now!”

- Ken Langeland, 1990

“We’re getting kind of panicky, man.”

-Tony Pernas, 1993

Melaleuca ManagementMelaleuca ManagementHistorical BackgroundHistorical Background

• 1975 - Two Melaleuca workshops (FL FWCC)1975 - Two Melaleuca workshops (FL FWCC)• 1980 - Melaleuca symposium (FL Div. Forestry)1980 - Melaleuca symposium (FL Div. Forestry)• 1982 - Exotic woody plant conference (Fairchild)1982 - Exotic woody plant conference (Fairchild)• 1984 - Exotic Woody Plant workshop (ENP) 1984 - Exotic Woody Plant workshop (ENP) • 1984 - Exotic Pest Plant Council formed1984 - Exotic Pest Plant Council formed• 1986 - ENP Initiates Control Program1986 - ENP Initiates Control Program• 1988 - EPPC Exotic Pest Plant Symposium1988 - EPPC Exotic Pest Plant Symposium• 1990 - Melaleuca Task Force1990 - Melaleuca Task Force

Melaleuca Task ForceMelaleuca Task ForceJanuary 1990January 1990

• Jointly convened byJointly convened by Florida Exotic Pest Plant CouncilFlorida Exotic Pest Plant Council South Florida Water Management DistrictSouth Florida Water Management District

• >30 participants: >30 participants: Federal, state, & local government representatives, scientists, Federal, state, & local government representatives, scientists,

NGOs, private industryNGOs, private industry

• Objective:Objective: Develop a comprehensive strategy for managing melaleuca Develop a comprehensive strategy for managing melaleuca

throughout its range in Floridathroughout its range in Florida

Melaleuca Management PlanMelaleuca Management Plan

• May 1990 - 1st ed.• April 1994 - 2nd ed.

revised to include most recent information

• May 1999 - 3rd ed.• revised to update

information

• recommendations changed to reflect progress

Melaleuca Management Plan:Melaleuca Management Plan:EPPC Management Plan ApproachEPPC Management Plan Approach

• Summarize current ecological knowledgeSummarize current ecological knowledge– identify research gapsidentify research gaps

• Summarize existing control technologiesSummarize existing control technologies– what is working, and wherewhat is working, and where

• Identify control technology research needsIdentify control technology research needs– developing biological controls, improving chemical and developing biological controls, improving chemical and

mechanical controlsmechanical controls

• Develop plan to integrate and coordinate efforts Develop plan to integrate and coordinate efforts regionallyregionally

• South of Hwy 60South of Hwy 60• Mainly concentrated near areas Mainly concentrated near areas

of early plantingsof early plantings

Melaleuca Management PlanMelaleuca Management PlanDefining the ProblemDefining the Problem

Extent of infestations:Extent of infestations:

M ela leu ca D istr ib u tio n

N a tu ra l A rea s

Early Assessment:• Various techniques triedVarious techniques tried

satellite imagessatellite images false color infraredfalse color infrared aerial reconnaissance aerial reconnaissance

• Estimates varied Estimates varied 495,300 - 2.5 million acres495,300 - 2.5 million acres


• Sawgrass prairies

• Cypress heads

• Pinelands

Summarize invasion of native habitats

Ecological questions

• Reproductive ecology

• Florida vs. Australia

• Many herbicides tried• Effectiveness varied• Initial treatments result in dense,

even-aged seedling stands• Treated trees often resprout• Mechanical removal very expensive

& unsuited for most natural areas


Summarize available control options in 1990

Melaleuca tree that was controlled with herbicides surrounded by “doghair” seedlings

Melaleuca Management PlanMelaleuca Management PlanRecommendationsRecommendations

• ResearchResearch develop biological control agentsdevelop biological control agents search for better ways to use herbicidessearch for better ways to use herbicides Develop ways to measure of infestation levelDevelop ways to measure of infestation level fill gaps in ecological knowledgefill gaps in ecological knowledge

• OperationsOperations

• EducationEducation


• ResearchResearch

• OperationsOperations establish melaleuca-free zones around ENP, Big Cypress, establish melaleuca-free zones around ENP, Big Cypress,

WCAs, Holey Land, & Lake Okeechobee WCAs, Holey Land, & Lake Okeechobee apply strategy of first removing outliers, then moving apply strategy of first removing outliers, then moving

progressively closer to focus of each infestationprogressively closer to focus of each infestation monitor sites for regrowth/seedlings up to 4 years post-monitor sites for regrowth/seedlings up to 4 years post-

treatment & retreat as neededtreatment & retreat as needed





• EducationEducation inform government officials about magnitude of problem & inform government officials about magnitude of problem &

need for fundingneed for funding inform resource managers of best control options & inform resource managers of best control options &

opportunities resource sharing cost-sharingopportunities resource sharing cost-sharing inform general public of problem & encourage removal of trees inform general public of problem & encourage removal of trees

on private propertyon private property

• Aerial photos of 1 mi2 areas (1:3600 scale)

• 8 areas in Dade & Broward Counties

• 25 yrs to go from 5% (30 acres) to 95% (600 acres)

cover

Melaleuca Management PlanMelaleuca Management PlanImplementing the PlanImplementing the Plan

Year0 5 10 15 20 25

% M

elal

euca

in

fest

atio

n (

of

1 s

q.

mil

e s

ecti

on

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

% Infestation = 97.91/(1 + 77.52 x 0.74year

)

R2 = 0.94

Source: Laroche & Ferriter 1992J. Aquatic Plant Manage. 30: 62-65

How quickly do infestations grow?

1965 1990


• Aerial surveys (SFWMD) flight lines every 2.5 mi coordinates (GPS) & density

recorded for every occurrence

• Conducted biannually 488,000 acres in 1993 453,000 acres in 1995 391,000 acres in 1997 359,000 acres in 1999

How much?


Strategy

Eliminate existingstands

Halt expansion

Seed/saplingmortality

Reduce seedproduction

• mechanical removal• treat with herbicides

• hand-pull saplings• treat with herbicides• damage by biocontrol insects

• damage by biocontrol insects

Melaleuca Control in by Ground application in Pennsuco Mitigation Area

April 1998

February 1999

October 2000

October 2001

October 2003


• Ground application Hack/squirt - completely girdle tree Cut Stump - treat stumps shortly

after cut

• Aerial application Determine effective herbicides use microfoil boom with small

(0.02) nozzle overlap spray paths by 50%

Perform herbicide trials:

Crew Transport • Airboat

• Helicopter – a necessity in early days of control in Everglades

• ATV/ Buggy

Melaleuca Management ExpendituresMelaleuca Management Expenditures (FY 91-01)(FY 91-01)

South Florida Water Management District $21,649,322

Big Cypress National Preserve $ 2,579,000

Everglades National Park $ 3,548,000

Water Conservation Areas 2A, 3A, 3B 600,000 acresLake Okeechobee 100,000 acresEverglades National Park 200,000 acresBig Cypress National Preserve 100,000 acres

Areas under Maintenance Control

Ground Application 75%

Aerial application 15%

Biocontrol 10%

Distribution of Expenditures

Conceptual Model

Time

Rel

ianc

eHerbicides and Mechanical Control

Biological Control

Today


• ResearchResearch develop biological control agents develop biological control agents - Yes- Yes search for better ways to use herbicides search for better ways to use herbicides - Yes- Yes Develop ways to measure of infestation level Develop ways to measure of infestation level - Yes- Yes fill gaps in ecological knowledge fill gaps in ecological knowledge - Yes- Yes




• ResearchResearch• OperationsOperations

establish melaleuca-free zones around ENP, Big Cypress, WCAs, establish melaleuca-free zones around ENP, Big Cypress, WCAs, Holey Land, & Lake Okeechobee Holey Land, & Lake Okeechobee - So-so- So-so

apply strategy of first removing outliers, then moving progressively apply strategy of first removing outliers, then moving progressively closer to focus of each infestation closer to focus of each infestation – Yes on most pubic lands– Yes on most pubic lands

monitor sites for regrowth/seedlings up to 4 years post-treatment & monitor sites for regrowth/seedlings up to 4 years post-treatment & retreat as needed retreat as needed – Yes on most public lands– Yes on most public lands





• EducationEducation inform government officials about magnitude of problem & inform government officials about magnitude of problem &

need for funding need for funding - Yes- Yes inform resource managers of best control options & inform resource managers of best control options &

opportunities resource sharing cost-sharing opportunities resource sharing cost-sharing - Yes- Yes inform general public of problem & encourage removal of trees inform general public of problem & encourage removal of trees

on private propertyon private property - - YesYes

melaleuca in the everglades mike bodle vegetation management division south florida water management...

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