A pair of harvesters from Texas Aquatic Harvesting Wednesday were removing Polygonum hydropiperoides, or swamp smartweed, from the northern end of Lake Tohopekaliga to make the waterway more easily navigable by boaters that live in nearby communities.

 Right, Mike Bodly, senior scientist specializing in aquatic plant managment for the  South Florida Water Management District.

The harvesters were to remove about 10 surface acres of the plant, which is native to the area, at a cost of about $80,000. The acreage to be harvested will be approximately 9 percent of the total area covered by the plant.

The last time the maintenance was performed in Lake Tohopekaliga was 2003.