Aquatechnex specializes in using the latest GIS and GPS technology to identify and treat invasive aquatic plants.   Invasive algae and noxious aquatic weeds are unsightly and may put humans and other native species in danger.   For this reason, having the ability to accurately map invasive plant populations is a critical task in the management of the resource.  Aquatechnex biologists collected GPS observations in the field containing the type of invasive species, growth patterns, and density.  This data is then entered into a GIS software program for further evaluation.  These maps are important baseline for monitoring growth and treatment effectiveness.   Upon evaluation of the GIS models, Aquatechnex along the property managers, or government agencies are able to set strategic priorities and monitor the effects of treatments over time.
Aquatechnex treated Eurasian Milfoil on North Idaho’s Pend Oreille Lake and River this summer.  This is the fourth year of this project and the Eurasian Milfoil populations have been significantly reduced.  One of the key things that needs to happen on a project like this is keeping the public up to date on treatments and water use restrictions.  As this project spans over 60 miles of shoreline, using an interactive map tool on the internet is something that will really help people visualize the location of treatments and the progress of the operation.  Go to http://69.30.47.126/Aquatechnex/default.htm to view the project.  There is a zoom in and out tool and you can drag the image around with your mouse to locate an area of interest.  Turn off the toggle tool to clear that side of the screen.  The Blue polygons are areas that will be treated with a granular product, the yellow areas are liquid Triclopyr areas and the Orange areas are liquid Triclopyr on Corps of Engineers project lands.  We will be updating this as the treatment start to show areas not yet treated, those treated with irrigation restrictions and those treated where irrigation restrictions have expired.
Click here for a detailed description on how GPS and GIS technologies were used in this project:  Winning The War on Weeds
More information on Aquatechnex can be found on their website:  www.aquatechnex.com
The Mapping Network:  www.TheMappingNetwork.com
A Nationwide Network of GPS Mapping Professionals