Abstract
A mathematical model was developed for Lake Alice, a small, eutrophic, Kars-topography lake in Gainesville, Florida. The management of the floating aquatic plant, the waterhyacinth (
Eichhornia crassipes) was considered one of the main objectives of the model. Simulated diversion of the treated sewage inflow reduced waterhyacinths by 50% or more. Dissolved oxygen remained low. Simulated diversion of the diluting effect of a heating plant effluent led to complete hyacinth takeover and much greater seasonal oscillations in the chemical parameters. Simulated hyacinth control caused the greatest dissolved oxygen fluctuations when spraying and periodic harvesting were tested and least with continuous harvesting. It was suggested that the above mentioned diversions were shown to be ecologically unattractive even without considering the economic costs of alternatives to lake disposal.