Mike Horner
State Representative

Osceola County'’s economy may be damaged by a drastic reduction in hydrilla control on Lake Tohopekaliga.  The state agency in charge of invasive plant management, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), is proposing to reduce hydrilla treatment from last year’s level of 4,500 acres to only 1,500 acres in an effort to help breed the endangered snail kite.

A dramatic reduction in hydrilla control will harm Osceola’s economy and cost our community much-needed jobs. Osceola County is at 13 percent unemployment and recreational use of Lake Toho is a major economic engine. By reducing the treatment area this year, FWC will make the lake far less attractive to fishermen and other recreational users. A lake clogged with hydrilla in 2011 will have a long-term negative impact on the lake’s reputation among anglers across the globe.

The proposed reduction in treatment could set the stage for a massive hydrilla boom.  The past two winters have been cold; this has naturally kept the hydrilla at bay and enhanced the FWC hydrilla treatment process. But this year we are expecting a mild winter.  This – coupled with a 60-percent reduction in treatment – could set the stage for massive hydrilla expansion that would be devastating to our local economy and expensive for the state to remedy.

What is most worrisome is that apparently there is no scientific rationale for reducing treatment. The FWC has no hard data, just a “best information available” guess that more hydrilla will result in more snail kites. FWC is proposing a two-year experiment on our lake to see if its hypothesis is sound. Our community can ill-afford this job-killing experiment.

It is important to remember that hydrilla and exotic snails are not indigenous to Lake Toho. Reducing treatment will set up an artificial and unsustainable snail kite sanctuary.

I believe staff of FWC is sympathetic to the effect a reduced amount of treatment will have on our economy.  The agency has committed to refining its plan to better protect local jobs.  Osceola residents will have an opportunity to voice their concerns Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Osceola County Commission Chambers at a special FWC public meeting on the Lake Toho hydrilla control plan.

I strongly encourage interested residents to attend the meeting Friday. We need to let Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service know that our government has a responsibility to not only protect the endangered snail kite but also to protect another endangered species – Osceola County jobs.

Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, is the state representative for district 79, which includes much of Osceola County.