Engineering Department - Environmental & Stormwater Management

The City of Clearwater conducts an ongoing Invasive Vegetation Removal Project. This year, the City removed invasive vegetation at eight sites (totaling almost 100 acres). These sites were selected to be part of this project in order to remove invasive vegetation seed sources and to improve function and aesthetics. The sites that were involved in the Invasive Vegetation Removal Project were:

• Alligator Creek, between Kapok Park and McMullen Booth Road. Many types of invasive vegetation were removed from the steep banks of the creek, including Chinese tallow, castor bean, and air potato.
• Coachman Ridge Park, on the corner of Old Coachman Road and NE Coachman Road.  Invasive vines were an issue at this park, inhibiting the ability to play disc golf.
• Cooper’s Bayou, along Bayshore Boulevard. Brazilian peppers grew along the edge of the mangroves, causing unnatural growth of the mangroves.
• Drew Street, along the bike path between the Eddie C. Moore ball fields and Kapok Park. Many types of invasive vegetation were in this area, including castor bean, Chinese tallow, and a variety of vines.

Two sites were located in the Lake Chautauqua area:

• Southern shore of the lake, at the corner of Second Street and Lakeshore Drive.  Vines grew up into the tall pine trees and melaleuca dominated the shoreline.  View of the lake was blocked by invasive vegetation.
• Across Lakeshore Drive from the lake.  Vines and Brazilian pepper were problems in this area. This site provided an invasive vegetation seed source that ran into Alligator Creek.

• Enterprise Road, on the south side of the road just east of US 19. Invasive vegetation on this site included Brazilian pepper, castor bean, Old World climbing fern, and melaleuca.
• Memorial Causeway, from the west end of the Memorial Causeway Bridge to Island Way. Invasive vegetation in this area was primarily the vine called winged yam. By removing this vine, mangrove habitats are improved, which are used by wading birds and other wildlife.

Follow-up herbicide treatments will occur as needed to ensure invasive vegetation does not become a problem at these sites again.

If you would like more information about this project or have general questions about invasive vegetation, please contact the City of Clearwater Environmental Specialist, Sarah Josuns, by email or call (727) 562-4897.