Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #372613
Research Project: Watershed-scale Assessment of Pest Dynamics and Implications for Area-wide Management of Invasive Insects and Weeds

Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health

Title: Operational aquatic weed management in the California Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta

Author
item CAUDILL, JEFFREY - California Department Of Boating And Waterways
item Madsen, John
item PRATT, WENDY - Crowe Llp

Submitted to: Journal of Aquatic Plant Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/8/2020
Publication Date: 8/31/2021
Citation: Caudill, J., Madsen, J.D., Pratt, W. 2021. Operational aquatic weed management in the California Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management. 59s:112-122.

Interpretive Summary: The components of the aquatic weed management program performed by the California Division of Boating and Waterways in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is discussed, including the techniques used, the regulations with which they comply, how they monitor the management activity, and the species of concern that involve mitigation of inadvertent take. The main species for management are waterhyacinth and Brazilian egeria.

Technical Abstract: Aquatic weed management in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta), and its tributaries has been conducted since 1982 by the California Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Boating and Waterways (CCDBW). The program utilizes chemical, physical and biological control methods as a part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Delta, which covers approximately 28,000 ha (68,000 acres) of waterways. CCDBW targets nine invasive aquatic plant species including water hyacinth and Brazilian waterweed. Weed management challenges such as budget, regulatory requirements and multiple stakeholder groups require the program to be flexible while also aiming to control all target weeds in the Delta. An increased number of target invasive plants, and trends in target plants and environmental conditions such as high or low water flow years have further emphasized the importance of IPM and a flexible toolset to control target invasive plants in the Delta.