FWC to treat invasive hydrilla on Lake Toho on Osceola County

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will work this week to combat an invasive aquatic plant in Osceola County.

FWC plans to treat a growing collection of hydrilla plants in several areas of Lake Tohopekaliga.

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Officials said the plants are encroaching on beneficial native submersed aquatic plants and may impact boat access and flood protection.

Hydrilla kills aquatic life by blocking sunlight. It also clogs waterways and creates a mosquito breeding ground.

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FWC said herbicides will be used in the areas that need treatment.

The South Florida Water Management District has worked before to help clear out some of the hydrilla on the lake.

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Officials have said before that they typically spend around 10 times as much money controlling invasive plants as they do on invasive animals.

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