Aquatic Plants and Fish: Rules for Aquatic Plant Removal and Control (2015)

Effective July 1, 2015 the 2015 Aquatic Plants and Fish pamphlet replaces the previous version of the pamphlet published in 1998 (APF-1-98). It serves as the Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) for some types of aquatic weed or plant control and removal including physical and mechanical methods. It does not address using grass carp, herbicides, or water column dye. You may find information regarding those methods at Washington Department of Ecology's website on aquatic plant management. Depending on the method you select to control aquatic noxious weeds or beneficial plants, an individual HPA may be required. If you use this pamphlet as your HPA for aquatic weed or plant control, please review it thoroughly and follow all applicable provisions. The administrative rules adopted by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) addressed in this pamphlet are included in WAC 220-660-290.

This pamphlet does not contain information about how to identify aquatic noxious weeds or beneficial plants, or make recommendations on which control method would be best in a specific situation. There are many online and other resources available that you may wish to consult when deciding whether or how to control aquatic plants. One such resource is Washington Department of Ecology's Water Quality website.