In order to stop the destruction of infrastructure by aquatic invasive species, USACE and its partners are using three methods of management: biological, mechanical, and chemical. Each process varies in its effectiveness depending on the species of aquatic plant being treated – leaving the team to rely heavily on data to determine the best method in invasive aquatic plant reduction.
For years, our public has called for more transparency on the process and efficacy of invasive plant management. Public feedback on management practices yielded many responses such as “no one is overseeing the contractors, and they are out there spraying everything.”
The urgent appeal has increased with the awareness of how precious our water resources are and the fragility of the ecosystems that depends on them. A new device will provide more transparency on where and how much herbicide chemical contractors are applying by using a GPS tracker that will not only show the path of the boat, but the spray path as well.