EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN IMPLEMENTATION: IPM STRATEGIES FOR HYDRILLA MANAGEMENT
J. Bradshaw, UF/IFAS Citrus County Extension; J. Cuda, UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department; K. Gioeli, UF/IFAS St. Lucie County Extension; and J. Gillett-Kaufman, UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department
Hydrilla verticillata (a.k.a. hydrilla) is an invasive freshwater plant common in Florida, Georgia and other southern states. It was probably brought to the Tampa and Miami areas as an aquarium plant in the late 1950s. By the 1970s, it was established throughout Florida. If left unmanaged, hydrilla is capable of creating damaging infestations which can choke out native plants, clog flood control structures (which can lead to flooding), and impede waterway navigation and recreational usage. In addition, hydrilla is showing resistance to fluridone, a systemic herbicide used to manage it for the past 20 years. According to the University of Florida / IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, millions of dollars are spent each year on herbicides and mechanical harvesters in Florida in an effort to place hydrilla under “maintenance control.”
There was a need for research and extension experts to design and transfer new, innovative methods of managing hydrilla.
Thanks to a 4-year grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, University of Florida / IFAS research and extension faculty, FAMU faculty and an ARMY Corps researcher are tackling the hydrilla problem head-on through the new Hydrilla Integrated Pest Management Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Project (Hydrilla IPM RAMP). This team is studying new chemical and biological control methods as part of an overall hydrilla integrated pest management (IPM) plan. Extension faculty are responsible for transferring this new information to stakeholders through demonstrations and educational programs, the project web portal, and published works.
Hydrilla IPM RAMP promotional materials were also developed to increase extension stakeholder access and awareness of research-based information regarding the hydrilla miner and other sustainable strategies for managing hydrilla. These promotional materials are primarily used to help guide stakeholders to the Hydrilla IPM RAMP portal at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/hydrilla QR codes were utilized on all promotional items to help direct stakeholders to the project portal on the web. This portal serves as a clearinghouse for relevant research and extension-related resources. In addition, this web portal served as the entry point for the Hydrilla IPM RAMP Project survey.
Hydrilla IPM RAMP Survey
The Hydrilla IPM RAMP educational campaign survey was utilized to determine stakeholder characteristics and management practices. In total, 541 people participated in this statewide survey which was conducted over six weeks in 2011. We were able to determine the following:
- 94% of survey respondents were familiar with hydrilla
- 75% of survey respondents visited Florida freshwater bodies for fishing and 55% of respondents visited them for boating
- 50% of survey respondents visited Florida’s freshwater lakes; 17% visited rivers
- 67% of survey respondents viewed hydrilla as a problem in the water bodies they visited
- 303 respondents knew who was responsible for managing the hydrilla in the water bodies they visited
- 95% of respondents indicated that herbicides were used control hydrilla in water bodies they visited
- 70% of respondents indicated that they utilize the internet to determine the best hydrilla management information
- 72% indicated the internet was the preferred way to obtain new information about hydrilla management
Promotional Items
Graphics packages for all items promotional items were developed by Jane Medley, Graphic Artist, UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department.
• Gillett-Kaufman, J., Bradshaw, J., Cuda, J., Gioeli, K., Hetrick, S. 2011. Hydrilla IPM RAMP Project 1-yd Vinyl Fishing Ruler (10,000 Produced: 3,500 Distributed to Extension Agents, 2,500 Distributed to Project Cooperators, 4,000 Distributed to University of Florida Entomology and Nematology Department)
• Gillett-Kaufman, J., Bradshaw, J., Cuda, J., Gioeli, K., Hetrick, S. 2011. Hydrilla IPM RAMP Project 6-in Ruler/Bookmark (70,000 Produced: 35,000 Distributed to Extension Agents, 9,000 Distributed to Project Cooperators, 27,500 Distributed to University of Florida Entomology and Nematology Department)
• Gillett-Kaufman, J., Bradshaw, J., Cuda, J., Gioeli, K., Hetrick, S. 2011. Hydrilla IPM RAMP Project Web Card (17,000 Produced: 7,000 Distributed to Agents, 3,000 Distributed to Project Cooperators, 7,000 Distributed to University of Florida Entomology and Nematology Department)
Evaluation Results
The Hydrilla IPM RAMP promotional materials were designed to guide stakeholders to our project web portal which launched in August 2011. Between August 2011 and March 2012, these promotional efforts resulted in generated traffic of 10,211 visitors to the project web portal. In addition, promotional items have been requested by Extension colleagues resulting in the distribution of 47,500 promotional items to these colleagues.
Implications for Future Programming
The Hydrilla IPM RAMP project began in 2011. Research is still being conducted on the development of the Hydrilla IPM plan; however, extension agents were able to engage the public through the use of survey instruments, public presentations and web portal. As a result of our stakeholder survey, we learned that 72% of respondents preferred to receive new information about hydrilla management via the internet. Our Hydrilla IPM RAMP web portal will be an ideal way to transfer this new information to stakeholders and the promotional items will play an increasing role in our outreach efforts.
For additional information about this Extension program, please feel free to contact Ken Gioeli, University of Florida Natural Resources Extension Agent, at ktgioeli@ufl.edu or (772) 462-1660.
Photo provided by UF/IFAS Extension
Photos and graphics cannot be altered in any way without permission.
Updates
In 2013, two learning lessons were posted at eXtension. To watch them, click on the following links:
Hydrilla IPM RAMP
Hydrilla Tip Miner