FLOOD-CONTROL BENEFITS OF AQUATIC PLANT CONTROL IN FLORIDA FLATWOODS CITRUS GROVES

Development of new citrus production in Florida has been expanding int o the low lying flatwoods areas in the Southern and Southwestern porti ons of the state. Citrus production is made possible in these areas on ly by extensive drainage control. This paper reports the findings of a simulation analysis to calculate the gross benefits of aquatic plant management in maintaining properly functioning drainage control. Benef its are measured as the avoided lost income from flood damaged citrus trees under varying aquatic plant control levels. Estimated annual gro ss flood control benefits were found to range between $66.73 and $86.7 5 per tree.