Aquatic Ecosystems and Site Assessment

Welcome to this CEU on Aquatic Ecosystems and Site Assessment. The purpose of this recertification CEU is to be used as an essential information source for reading a water body before any treatment decision is made. As such, attention must be given to the type of aquatic site, the difference between flowing and static water, thermal stratification, and the water chemistry factors that determine how a herbicide will perform. Special emphasis is placed on dissolved oxygen, the relationship between vegetation and fish habitat, and the downstream responsibilities that accompany every aquatic application. Go ahead and get started!

Learning Objectives:

The following is a list of the key points to be discussed within this course.

• Identify the types of aquatic sites and explain how site type affects management decisions.
• Explain the difference between flowing and static water and how it changes herbicide selection.
• Describe thermal stratification, the three layers of a stratified lake, and the effects of turnover.
• Explain how water chemistry factors such as pH, hardness, alkalinity, and turbidity affect herbicide performance.
• Describe how to assess dissolved oxygen, water use, and downstream users as part of a complete site assessment.

Florida Course Approval

Tyler Pettis – Director of Training