Aquatics

[Stephen M.]

I'm thinking about expanding my WA pesticide license into aquatics. Its an area I've avoided for years because of extra liability issues. However, there are few licensed for it an a steady demand for it, especially by the conservation district I contract with.

I have my insurance agent looking at that aspect for me, but my questions are:

Do any of you have one?
If not, do you know anybody who has one?
Is it worth the extra liability to get into aquatics?
What kind of rates are usually charged for doing the job?

Any insight that you licensed applicators can provide will be much appreciated.

[hardboiled]

I don't have the endorsement myself, but am also interested in it. I asked a question about arrowhead and cattails in retention ponds last year and got no response. You might be better inquiring on a site geared to golf course superintendants (if there is such a site).
If you could, please share the added insurance costs that your agent comes up with. I will inquire here and let you know what I hear from mine.

[jrservices]

I'm thinking about expanding my WA pesticide license into aquatics. Its an area I've avoided for years because of extra liability issues. However, there are few licensed for it an a steady demand for it, especially by the conservation district I contract with.

I have my insurance agent looking at that aspect for me, but my questions are:

Do any of you have one?
If not, do you know anybody who has one?
Is it worth the extra liability to get into aquatics?
What kind of rates are usually charged for doing the job?

Any insight that you licensed applicators can provide will be much appreciated.

I don't know much about it, it's not my category either. I would imagine any work around highly populated areas of water would require a lot of notifications & paperwork. I imagine it could be very profitable, though. I know where we are, one of the lakes not too far from us had a major infestation of milfoil. I believe they used sonar to eliminate it, and my understanding is , it worked quite well. I do recall, a week or two before they put it down, there were notifications posted all around the lake. Interesting stuff, keep us posted.

[Dr.Bizzaro]

Hello, I have an aquatics license....

It's one of the HARDEST tests to pass, WA has, from what I've heard, the toughest one to pass in the nation.....
I have used mine for applications on insects, as well as plants.....
I also have used mine for Salmon Habitat Restoration, having a licensed Aquatics guy around for that just makes sense, regardless of whether things are applied...
Liability is no differnet other than the fact in WA. if you kill a fish run, you'll be on KIRO so fast...
That said, my IPM program consists of very little chemical aps, mostly UV filters on ponds.....
Most who pass orn weed and insect stumble and fall on Aquatics....good luck!

[Ric]

Hello, I have an aquatics license....

It's one of the HARDEST tests to pass, WA has, from what I've heard, the toughest one to pass in the nation.....
I have used mine for applications on insects, as well as plants.....
I also have used mine for Salmon Habitat Restoration, having a licensed Aquatics guy around for that just makes sense, regardless of whether things are applied...
Liability is no differnet other than the fact in WA. if you kill a fish run, you'll be on KIRO so fast...
That said, my IPM program consists of very little chemical aps, mostly UV filters on ponds.....
Most who pass orn weed and insect stumble and fall on Aquatics....good luck!

Guys

Unlike Wa. test or the Fla. L & O test, the Aquatics test in Fla is fairly easy to pass, Mostly math problems. Anyone can sit for it also. Which doesn't make a lot of sense when Fla. has a potable water problem. But then I don't make the laws.

Liability insure is not that much more added on to my other licenses. How ever the need for special equipment can get expensive unless you have a volume of business. I don't do enough aquatics to have the various size boats with spray tanks. A big Aquatic pesticide operator will have a lot of equipment from ATVs to Air boats and everything in between. Weed control is the biggie here with Aquatics. The State contracts with many to keep drain canals open and free flowing. Getting to some of these areas is like the Lewis and Clark Expedition. I have stayed away from this kind of work.

[Stephen M.]

Thanks for the responses.

Bizarro GeeVee, your comment about KIRO is really right on; they, with KING5 and KOMO really like to dig up dirt for ratings.

I haven't looked at the study materials yet, but no doubt it will be "fun". The moss endorcement is a joke since the "study material" is both sides of one piece of paper.

My insurance agent says that I need to get the requirements for the license before he goes to the underwriters.

[Dr.Bizzaro]

You'll want to add Aquatic Irrigation, as well as straight Aquatics if you gonna be the spray the ditch guy...I think, but I'm pretty sure...
Watch out for Jean Enerson with your truck on the news and dead salmon laying on the ground....you'd have to move to some loser state and be like some of these people on the board..lol
POWER TO THE MOSSBACKS!!!!!

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