The PCMCD’s Aquatic Herbicide program, does not perform herbicide applications to control aquatic weeds for beautification purposes. Staff focus control efforts targeting invasive, non-native weeds that harbor certain mosquito species, or to thin out areas such as floating plant mats where growth is so thick that natural mosquito predators like minnows can’t access the immature mosquitoes.

Aquatic herbicide equipment includes herbicide trucks with a hose reel, airboats, amphibious vessels, and helicopters. The increased development of residential housing in formerly unpopulated areas of the District results in a continuously increasing aquatic weed control effort.

The district’s primary efforts include the control of two exotic floating weeds: Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) and Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiodes). These plants support the development of Mansonia dyari and Mansonia titilans mosquito species. A third mosquito, Coquilletidia perturbans, is also associated with aquatic weeds. It is found on a number of types of rooted plants along the edges of lakes, ponds, canals, and ditches but is best known to be associated with Cattails.