Mike Johnson
Founder of Aquatic Cleanup. Florida-licensed aquatic-vegetation operator working private lakes, HOA retention ponds, and waterfront properties across Volusia, Lake, Seminole, and Orange counties.
Areas of expertise
- ●Mechanical aquatic vegetation harvesting
- ●Florida invasive plant identification (Hydrilla, Eichhornia, Pistia, Myriophyllum)
- ●FWC Class I prohibited aquatic plant regulations
- ●Stormwater retention pond compliance under SJRWMD/SWFWMD ERP rules
- ●Native shoreline restoration with Florida-native species
- ●Cyanobacteria identification and HAB advisory protocols
Credentials & licenses
- ★Florida Department of Agriculture Aquatic Pest Control commercial applicator
- ★FWC-registered aquatic plant management contractor
- ★FNGLA-certified shoreline restoration installer
- ★OSHA 10-hour General Industry
Experience
Over a decade managing aquatic vegetation across Central Florida — from private 1-acre ponds to multi-pond HOA retention networks and Harris Chain shoreline restoration projects.
Education
B.S. Environmental Science, University of Central Florida
Publications & speaking
- — Quarterly contributor to Florida Lake Management Society practitioner notes
- — Field workshops on mechanical hydrilla suppression for FWC and IFAS extension
Articles by Mike Johnson
Water hyacinth doubles in size every 8–12 days during Florida summer. Here's what works — and what doesn't — for private lakefront owners.
Native eelgrass is fish habitat. Hydrilla is an invasive that smothers it. Here's how to identify what's in your water before you start treatment.
Florida HOA retention ponds are a line item that gets skipped until it becomes an emergency. Here's a realistic budget benchmark.
If your pond is clear in March and a green-mat disaster by June, the problem isn't the algae — it's the nutrient load.
Cattails are native, useful, and aggressive. Here's how to keep a healthy fringe without losing your shoreline to a 12-foot wall of vegetation.
Florida's aquatic plant rules sit at the intersection of FWC, water management districts, and local code. Here's the practical version.
Lake Monroe straddles Volusia and Seminole counties and carries decades of nutrient load from the upper St. Johns. Here's what to expect on the shoreline.
Florida's growing season never really stops, but vegetation is more vulnerable at certain points. Time the work right and you cut visit count by a third.
Spray is fast and cheap. Mechanical is durable and selective. The right answer depends on the species, the season, and what you need the lake to do.
Most Florida pond fish kills aren't poisoning. They're oxygen crashes — and they're predictable.
Mowed turf to the water's edge is the #1 cause of pond water quality problems. Replacing 6 ft with native shoreline plants fixes more than it looks.