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Hi-Tech Solution To Aquatic Weed Monitoring

The summer heat came early to the Tennessee Valley, upping the pressure for Dr. Brett Hartis, Tennessee Valley Authority aquatic plant management specialist, to get his job just right. He is charged with the task of monitoring and managing nuisance aquatic plants in the Tennessee River system.

Over the roar of the airboat Hartis can detect the satisfying “ping” emitting from the latest hi-tech hydro acoustics gadget mounted to his craft as he skims across Watts Bar surveying aquatic vegetation.

Seated on his airboat, Hartis collects data, including water depth, vegetation density, and plant species and uploads it to the cloud so it is ready for him at his office in Guntersville, Ala. From there he creates detailed vegetation maps and devises site-specific plans for management of nuisance vegetation near developed public access areas.