The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board Thursday approved a budget amendment that will clear the way for up to $2 million per year in federal funding to help fight the spread of invasive Lygodium, also known as Old World Climbing Fern, in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in western Palm Beach County.
The funding will come from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which manages the refuge. USFWS leases the refuge land from the state of Florida under an agreement that includes numerous performance measures, including controlling the spread of invasive plants.
"We must control the spread of invasive plants such as Lygodium to protect the investment of billions of Florida taxpayer dollars to restore the Everglades. SFWMD has shown it is committed to fight this invasive fern and this money offers assistance with the federal government's obligation," said SFWMD Governing Board Member Jim Moran in a written statement. Moran spearheaded efforts to forge an agreement with USFWS to ensure more federal funding to fight Lygodium in the refuge.
Lygodium has overrun countless tree islands and its spread has increased by about 600 percent in the refuge over the past two decades. The invasive fern can cause the collapse of tree islands, a crucial part of the habitat in the ridge and slough ecosystem of the Everglades. It also increases the risk of wildfires spreading.
The budget amendment passed today accepts $1.25 million to $2 million in funding from USFWS into SFWMD's land management budget this budget year. SFWMD has already spent about $2 million in state funding from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission this budget year, but those funds have now been exhausted. The USFWS funds will allow the District's contractors to continue eradicating Lygodium from tree islands in the refuge.
Under the agreement, USFWS must also give SFWMD up to $2 million in funding each year for the next several years to keep fighting the spread of Lygodium in the refuge. USFWS is also required to develop a new public use plan that potentially expands recreational uses in the refuge, such as hunting. USFWS has already held several public meetings and a draft of that new plan is expected to be released soon.
- Learn more about SFWMD's overall efforts to fight invasive plants
- Learn more about the agreement SFWMD's Governing Board approved with USFWS to fight Lygodium
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