ABSTRACT
Recurring floods and droughts have been natural phenomena since prehistoric times. The economic losses estimated for the US are, at best, rough estimates prepared by federal, state, and local organizations concerned with budgets. Water hyacinth, alligator weed, Eurasian water milfoil infestations, and more recently, hydrilla, were the primary probem aquatic weeds. The flood control district in Florida uses both chemical and mechanical means of aquatic weed control. Florida's some soil and water conservation districts are local subdivisions of the US government whose boundaries ordinarily correspond to county lines. Water recreation includes sport fishing and hunting, all water sports, wildlife appreciation activities, and camping. Effective control of water hyacinth and alligator weed reduces impediments to navigation, flood control and drainage, irrigation, and recreation. The control of water hyacinths, alligator weed, and other problematic infestations has improved navigation, agriculture, commercial and sport hunting and fishing, drainage, and irrigation; the net effect has been increased productivity, reduced costs, and newly stimulated economic activity.
