• Efficacy of Florpyrauxifen-benzyl on Dioecious Hydrilla and Hybrid Water Milfoil - Concentration and Exposure Time Requirements

    Abstract: This study conducted small-scale trials under various concentration and exposure time (CET) scenarios to determine florpyrauxifen-benzyl activity on dioecious hydrilla and hybrid watermilfoil and determine impact on water stargrass and elodea. Hydrilla treated with 12, 24, or 36 μg active ingredient (a.i.) L⁻¹ florpyrauxifen-benzyl and exposed for 12, 24, or 48 hr under outdoor mesocosm conditions was reduced in biomass by 30-75% at 8 weeks after treatment (WAT). An additional hydrilla trial at the same herbicide concentrations, but under longer exposures (24, 72, or 168 hr), resulted in 33–85% plant control. Under indoor conditions, hybrid watermilfoil dry weight decreased 98–100% with subsurface applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl under CET scenarios of 3–12 μg a.i. L⁻¹ at 3–24 hr exposure times in a growth chamber trial. Under shorter exposure periods (0.5–4 hr) in a follow-up trial, low doses (3–9 μg a.i. L⁻¹) achieved 50–100% control of hybrid watermilfoil. In the same trial, the nontarget species water stargrass and elodea proved relatively tolerant to the florpyrauxifen-benzyl at doses up to 6 μg a.i. L⁻¹ (4 hr exposure) and 9 μg a.i. L⁻¹ (1 hr exposure). These small-scale trials demonstrate florpyrauxifen-benzyl’s potential to selectively manage invasive species.
  • Comparison of Generic and Proprietary Aquatic Herbicides for Control of Invasive Vegetation; Part 3: Submersed Plants

    Abstract: Herbicide selection is key to efficiently managing nuisance vegetation in our nation’s waterways. After selecting the active ingredient, there still remains multiple proprietary and generic products to choose from. Recent small-scale research has been conducted to compare the efficacy of these herbicides against floating and emergent species. Therefore, a series of mesocosm and growth chamber trials were conducted to evaluate subsurface applications of the following herbicides against submersed plants: diquat versus coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum L.), hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata L.f. Royle), southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis (Sprengel) Magnus), and Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.); flumioxazin versus coontail, hydrilla, and Eurasian watermilfoil; and triclopyr against Eurasian watermilfoil. All active ingredients were applied at concentrations commonly used to manage these species in public waters. Visually, all herbicides within a particular active ingredient performed similarly with regard to the onset and severity of injury symptoms throughout the trials. All trials, except diquat versus Eurasian watermilfoil, resulted in no differences in efficacy among the 14 proprietary and generic herbicides tested, and all herbicides provided 43%–100% control, regardless of active ingredient and trial. Under mesocosm and growth chamber conditions, the majority of the generic and proprietary herbicides evaluated against submersed plants provided similar control.
  • Field Site Analysis of Giant Salvinia Nitrogen Content and Salvinia Weevil Density

    Abstract: In 2012, a giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta Mitchell) biological control project was initiated in Louisiana. Although similar quantities of salvinia weevils (Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands) were released at all sites, weevil densities were highly variable among sites. Additionally, signs of plant nitrogen depletion (yellowing plants) were observed at some sites. Because it is well known that plant nutrition can affect the success of a biocontrol agent because of slowed development and/or reduced fecundity, the correlation between giant salvinia nitrogen content and Salvinia weevil density was investigated during the growing seasons of the second and fourth years. During 2013, weevils were reintroduced to sites, and the magnitude of adult weevil density increase varied by site. Giant salvinia nitrogen content varied among sites and sampling dates. Upper Big Break plants had greater nitrogen than all other sites during 75% of sampling dates. Additionally, adult and larval densities were significantly correlated to plant nitrogen content. During 2015, trends were less distinct and weevil densities and nitrogen content varied based on the interaction between sampling date and site, but a significant correlation was not detected. Results confirmed published reports of the importance of plant nitrogen content to salvinia weevil productivity. Additional studies are warranted to evaluate and understand the role of nitrogen at giant salvinia biocontrol field sites.
  • USACE’s mobile Blue Roof sign-up vehicles in Tangipahoa, Lafourche, Assumption, Livingston parishes

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is announcing the latest mobile locations for its Blue Roof program sign up starting Sept 22.
  • VE program stays course despite COVID shutdown

    The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way Huntsville Center does business, but it has not changed the business we do. For the Center’s Value Engineering (VE) Program, that means implementing innovative solutions to continue helping the Center’s programs provide high-quality work in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Through collaborative workshops to evaluate methods and processes, the program increases value and stretches taxpayer resources by proactively searching for and resolving issues. The Corps of Engineers requires all Huntsville Center programs to conduct a VE study once every five years.
  • Army Corps awards contract for construction of upland Dredge Material Management Area and stormwater modifications at the Martin County Business Park in Jensen, Florida

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, has awarded a $4,173,500 contract to Dickerson Florida, Inc., of Fort Pierce, Florida, for the construction of an upland Dredge Material Management Area (DMMA) O-23 and modifications to the stormwater management system within the Martin County Business Park in Jensen Beach, Martin County, Florida.
  • Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, awards contracts for maintenance dredging of Tampa Harbor Upper Channels, Alafia River

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, awarded a contract Sept. 20, 2021for the maintenance dredging of the Tampa Harbor Upper Channels to Orion Marine Construction, Inc., of Tampa, Florida, in the amount of $3.45 million.
  • Corps awards contract for maintenance dredging of Palm Beach Harbor

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, has awarded a $5,911,728 contract to Cashman Dredging & Marine Contracting Co., LLC, of Quincy, Massachusetts, for maintenance dredging of Palm Beach Harbor, Florida. The project, undertaken in partnership with the Port of Palm Beach, will be 100 percent federally funded.
  • Another year of success as USACE, SCDNR host 7th Annual Warrior Dove Hunt

    On the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, 32 veterans participated in the 7th annual Wounded Warriors and Veterans Dove Hunt at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Cooper River Rediversion Project.
  • Cagle joins the ERDC’s Coastal, Hydraulics Laboratory

    Taylor Cagle has joined the Hydrologic Systems Branch in the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).