Aquatic Plant Management Department’s Grant for Cuban Bulrush Control Research and Development

Disclosures of current and pending support made in this application may render an applicant ineligible for funding. Prior to award and throughout the period of performance, ERDC may continue to request updated continuing and pending support information, which will be reviewed and may result in discontinuation of funding.

Religious organizations are entitled to compete on equal footing with secular organizations for Federal financial assistance as described in E.O. 13798, “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.”

Objective 1: Determine the Effectiveness of Current Management Strategies for Controlling Cuban bulrush – Outreach to Practitioners. Engage with resource managers across the southeastern U.S. where Cuban bulrush is problematic and being managed through interactions at regional aquatic plant management and stakeholder meetings to: 1) enhance understanding of current and previous management efforts, and 2) to gain an understanding of aquatic manager knowledge regarding this species. Outcomes from this objective will be used to develop mesocosm research protocols and field trials.

Objective 2: Determine Efficacy of Current Operations Through Field Monitoring. Track ongoing Cuban bulrush management activities to better understand where management can be improved through successes and failures of current field practices.

Objective 3: Evaluate Chemical and IPM Approaches for Both Biotypes of Cuban Bulrush in a Mesocosm Setting. Evaluate tank mixes of 2,4-D, diquat, flumioxazin, triclopyr, florpyrauxifen-benzyl, and glyphosate against well-established Cuban bulrush mats in a mesocosm setting to determine efficacy of foliar applied treatments.

Objective 4: Evaluate Chemical and IPM Approaches for Control of Cuban Bulrush in Field Studies. Building upon the mesocosm evaluations, evaluate successful treatments in the field to determine efficacy against well-established populations (tussocks).

Provide peer-reviewed publications that document activity of the herbicides, mechanical control and IPM technologies tested in mesocosm and field settings for Objectives 3 and 4. Additionally, provide recommendations regarding best management practices for Cuban bulrush control.