Nearly $2.2 million earmarked to fight hydrilla in Harris Chain of Lakes

A state and local partnership is behind a nearly $2.2 million fight against hydrilla, an invasive plant that impedes boat navigation, on the Harris Chain of Lakes.

The Lake County Water Authority allocated $1.5 million and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission chipped in $675,000 toward the effort, water authority executive director Mike Perry told county commissioners at a recent meeting.

FWC is coordinating the effort and another partner in the operation, Lake County government, will provide the manpower to apply treatments, he said. The fight began this week in areas of Lake Dora.

“I think we’re gonna see significant treatments this spring and then hopefully we’ll have made a pretty good dent in it come summer,” Perry said, “but they’re not going to be able to get it all … we’re doing our job the best we can to get as much done as we can…”