§ 10.5-1. Control of aquatic plants and weeds.

(a)

Examination and removal upon removal of boats from water. Every person operating a boat in the county shall, upon removal of that boat from the water, examine the boat trailer, outdrive unit or outboard motor, lower unit and propeller and remove any aquatic weeds thereon.

(b)

Transport of aquatic weeds prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to transport, over a public road in the county, any boat trailer, boat, outdrive unit or outboard motor to which there is attached or on which there is located any noxious aquatic weed.

(c)

Definitions. As used in this section the following terms shall mean as indicated below:

(1)

Noxious aquatic weeds: Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), Brazilian elodea (Egenia densa), or Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum).

(2)

Public road: Any road maintained by the state, the county, or a municipality within the county.

(3)

Water: All meandered lakes in unincorporated Polk County.

(d)

State permit required for control of aquatic plants. No person shall control or attempt to control aquatic plants in the waters of unincorporated Polk County except as provided in a permit issued by the State of Florida Department of Natural Resources unless the activities are in waters expressly exempted from permit requirements by this or the rules of the department of natural resources.

(e)

Exemption to permit requirement; limitation thereon. No permit is required for the physical removal of aquatic plants by a riparian owner in front of his own property. This exemption is limited to an access corridor not to exceed twenty-five (25) feet in width of sufficient length to reach open water.

(f)

Revegetation after unauthorized removal. Where aquatic vegetation is physically removed or killed by herbicide application without an aquatic weed control permit, the person or persons responsible shall revegetate the area. Cattails and exotic plants will not be approved for revegetation.

(Ord. No. 76-10, §§ 1—3; Ord. No. 84-18, §§ 1—3, 6-26-84)

Editor's note

Having not expressly amended the Code, the provisions of §§ 1—3 of Ord. No. 84-18, adopted June 26, 1984, have been codified as amending § 10.5-1 at the editor's discretion.

Cross reference

Boats and boating, Ch. 4.2; control and removal of specific aquatic plants, § 8-64 et seq.