The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is tweaking its aquatic plant management program but will resume Monday spraying herbicides, including the controversial Roundup.

In a statement released Friday, the FWC said using herbicides "is the best way to control many of Florida’s toughest invasive plants such as water hyacinths and hydrilla."

Still, the agency said it was "re-committing to employing methods that minimize the quantity of herbicides needed to achieve the desired level of control."

"FWC may use aquatic approved glyphosate for some emergent species," said spokeswoman Carli Segelson, referring to the active ingredient in Roundup.

The agency does not use glyphosate to manage hydrilla and rarely uses it to manage invasive floating plants, water hyacinth and water lettuce, Segelson said.

The FWC suspended spraying herbicides Jan. 24.

Previously: FWC suspends spraying herbicides, including Roundup, on water plants

Segelson said work will begin Monday "on some of the heavily impacted areas," including Taylor Creek, Kissimmee River and Fish Eating Creek, all of which flow into Lake Okeechobee. No work is scheduled on the lake.

Kipp Frohlich, director of the FWC’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, said waterfront property owners, boaters and community officials have asked the agency to "quickly resume control of the worst plants such as hydrilla before they grow to a point that makes lakes virtually unusable."

The FWC said it will implement a number of changes to the way aquatic plants throughout the state are controlled, including:

Accelerating the development of habitat management plans for individual lakes.

Forming a technical assistance group of staff, partners and stakeholders.

Improving the timing of spraying herbicide on invasive aquatic plants.

Exploring ways to better use mechanical aquatic plant harvesting.

Finding better ways to oversee and increase the accountability of aquatic plant control contractors.

"I can see a couple of glimmers of hope in there," said Paul Gray, Audubon Florida's expert on Lake Okeechobee.

Developing habitat management plans for the state's lakes, Gray said, "is essential" and should include monitoring the effects of herbicide spraying on each lake.

Forming a technical assistance group "will be good if they get good people to give them good input on how to do what they do better," Gray said.

Focus on Lake O

The FWC uses chemical, mechanical, biological and physical methods to control invasive plants in water bodies throughout the state. Much of the focus has been on Lake Okeechobee, the largest lake in the state and the second largest natural freshwater lake entirely within the contiguous United States.

More:TCPalm investigation finds herbicides in Indian River Lagoon

Most environmentalists and anglers agree some herbicide spraying is needed on Lake O to keep exotic species from choking out native vegetation and blocking boat access to the lake's marshes.

But most also agree the practice has gotten out of hand.

In 2017, the FWC sprayed on Lake Okeechobee:

More than 20,000 pounds of herbicides, about the weight of a garbage truck.

11,658 pounds of the herbicide Roundup, about the weight of a monster truck.

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has been classified as "probably carcinogenic" by the World Health Organization.

More: Should Martin County ban Roundup?

Also, Roundup kills plants indiscriminately rather than pinpointing invasive species that need to be removed.

When the dead plants sink to the bottom of the lake and turn into sediment, they hold nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that can feed algae blooms.

More: Do herbicides feed algae blooms?

During Lake Okeechobee discharges, the often-toxic blooms move from the lake into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers, where they can become environmental, economic and health hazards.

The FWC continues to take comments and suggestions via email at: InvasivePlants@MyFWC.com.