Each day, pressure mounts on the unique ecosystems that produce the fresh water vital to all life.

Invasive aquatic vegetation degrades water quality, causing health problems for people, loss of habitat for fish and wildlife, and a decrease in property values. It also impacts recreational activities. Although traditional management techniques and tools are available, there is a pressing need to develop new strategies and refine existing ones that can selectively control these aggressive weeds in an environmentally compatible fashion.

Technological improvements can only be achieved through competent and sustainable research and development (R&D) programs. In the past, the federal government has played the prominent role in maintaining a coalition of research scientists, natural resource agencies, academic institutions, and private sector interests for studying and managing nuisance aquatic and wetland
vegetation. However, significant reductions in agency funded R&D programs have created a technological void while invasive aquatic and riparian weeds continue to spread and cause grave environmental damage.

The AERF was formed to fill this void.