During the late 1880's and early 1890's the non-indigenous aquatic plant, waterhyacinth, rapidly infested the waters of Florida and Louisiana. The expanding populations of waterhyacinth obstructed commercial river traffic, leading Congress to approve the River and Harbor Act of 1899. This act authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CE) to remove waterhyacinth in the navigable waters of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. Thus, the CE initial responsibilities for aquatic plant management were established in 1899, providing control operations directives known as the Removal of Aquatic Growths (RAG) project.

By the mid-1940's, another non-indigenous aquatic plant, alligatorweed, had infested the waters of the southeastern United States. In view of the magnitude of this new aquatic plant problem Congress approved the River and Harbor Act of 1958 (Section 104, Public Law 85-500). This newly approved act authorized the CE to proceed with a comprehensive project for the control and progressive eradication of alligatorweed, waterhyacinth, and other noxious aquatic plants in the waters of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. In recognition of the value of scientific research to solving problems, Congress at the same time included provisions for research directed toward the development of the most effective and economic control methods. This project, known as the Expanded Project for Aquatic Plant Control, was initiated in 1959 for a five-year period.

In 1965, a report on the results of the Expanded Project was submitted to Congress recommending that the "project" approach should be expanded to a nationwide "program." As a result, Congress approved Section 104 of the River and Harbor Act of 1958 to be amended by the River and Harbor Act of 1965 (Section 302, Public Law 89-298). This newly approved amendment and future amendments authorized the CE to proceed with a comprehensive program for control of noxious aquatic plants in the waters of the United States, including continued research for development of effective and economic control methods.

The following is a chronology of legislative acts and significant milestones of the CE Aquatic Plant Control (APC) program and the Aquatic Plant Control Research Program (APCRP).

River and Harbor Act of 1958, Public Law 85-500 (72 Stat. 297, 300)
SEC. 104. That there is hereby authorized a comprehensive project to provide for control and progressive eradication of the water- hyacinth, alligatorweed, and other obnoxious aquatic plant growths from the navigable waters, tributary streams, connecting channels, and other allied waters in the States of North Carolina, South Caro- lina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, in the combined interest of navigation, flood control, drainage, agri- culture, fish and wildlife conservation, public health, and related pur- poses, including continued research for development of the most effec- tive and economic control measures, at an estimated additional cost for the expanded program over that now underway of $1,350,000 annually for five years, of which 70 per centum, presently estimated at $945,000, shall be borne by the United States and 30 per centum, presently estimated at $405,000, by local interests, to be administered by the Chief of Engineers, under the direction of the Secretary of the Army in cooperation with other Federal and State agencies in accord- ance with the report of the Chief of Engineers, published as House Document Numbered 37, Eighty-fifth Congress: Provided, That local interests agree to hold and save the United States free from claims that may occur from such operations and participate to the extent of 30 per centum of the cost of the additional program: Provided further, That Federal funds appropriated for this project shall be allocated by the Chief of Engineers on a priority basis, based upon the urgency and need of each area, and the availability of local funds.

1959
The CE and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service begin cooperative program to develop insects for control of exotic plants.

River and Harbor Act of 1962, Public Law 87-874 (76 Stat, 1173, 1180)
SEC. 104. The project for aquatic plant control authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1958 (72 Stat. 297, 300) is hereby modified to provide that research costs and planning costs prior to construction shall be borne fully by the United States and shall not be included in the cost to be shared by local interests.

River and Harbor Act of 1965, Public Law 89-298
SEC. 302. Section 104 of the River and Harbor Act of 1958 (72 Stat. 297, 300), as amended by section 104 of the River and Harbor Act of 1962 (76 Stat, 1173, 1180), is hereby further amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 104. (a) There is hereby authorized a comprehensive pro- gram to provide for control and progressive eradication of water- hyacinth, alligatorweed, Eurasian water milfoil, and other obnoxious aquatic plant growths, from the navigable waters, tributary streams, connecting channels, and other allied waters of the United States, in the combined interest of navigation, flood control, drainage, agri- culture, fish and wildlife conservation, public health, and related purposes, including continued research for development of the most effective and economic control measures, to be administered by the Chief of Engineers, under the direction of the Secretary of the Army, in cooperation with other Federal and State agencies. Local interests shall agree to hold and save the United States free from claims that may occur £rom control operations and to participate to the extent of 30 per centum of the cost of such operations. Costs for research and planning undertaken pursuant to the authorities of this section shall be borne fully by the Federal Government.
(b) There are authorized to be appropriated such amounts, not in excess of $5,000,000 annually, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. Any such funds employed for control operations shall be allocated by the Chief of Engineers on a priority basis, based upon the urgency and need of each area, and the avail- ability of local funds.”

1973
Office, Chief of Engineers, designates the Waterways Experiment Station (WES) as the Corps’ lead laboratory for aquatic plant research. The Aquatic Plant Control Research Program (APCRP) was established with responsibility for management of the nationwide research program. Responsibility for APC program administration moved from Planning Division to Operations Division, Headquarters.

1980
The Aquatic Plant Control Operations Support Center (APCOSC) is established in the Jacksonville District.

Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1983, Public Law 98-63
Section 104(b) of the River and Harbor Act of 1958, Public Law 85-500, as amended by section 302 of the River and Harbor Act of 1965, Public Law 89-298, is further amended by striking out "$5,000,000" and inserting in lieu thereof "$10,000,000".

Water Resources Development Act of 1986, Public. Law 99-662
SEC. 103. FLOOD CONTROL AND OTHER PURPOSES.
(C) Other Purposes.—The non-federal share of the cost assigned to other project purposes shall be as follows:
(6) aquatic plant control: 50 percent of control operations.

SEC. 941. AQUATIC PLANT CONTROL
Section 104(b) of the River and Harbor Act of 1958 (33 U.S.C. 610(b)) is amended by striking out "$10,000,000" and inserting in lieu thereof "$12,000,000".

1993
The Invasive Species Center (ISC) is established in the Environmental Laboratory of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.

Water Resources Development Act of 1996, Public. Law 104-303
SEC. 225. MELALEUCA.
Section 104(a) of the River and Harbor Act of 1958 (33 U.S.C. 610(a)) is amended by inserting "melaleuca," after "milfoil,".

1996
To be consistent with the President’s national performance goals and reducing the budget deficit, and shifting responsibility to state and local governments, the CE makes a Policy change of not funding the 50:50 cost-share control operations of the APC program. Memo from Director of Civil Works to Major Subordinate Commands states that funding is solely for research (APCRP) in support of CE operating projects, as well as other Federal, state, and local agencies.

Water Resources Development Act of 1999, Public. Law 106-53
SEC. 205. CONTROL OF AQUATIC PLANTS.
Section 104 of the River and Harbor Act of 1958 (33 U.S.C. 610(a)) is amended- (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by striking "water- hyacinth, alligatorweed, Eurasian water milfoil, melaleuca, and other obnoxious aquatic plant growths, from" and inserting "noxious aquatic plant growths from"; (2) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by striking "$12,000,000" and inserting "$15,000,000"; and (3) by adding at the end the following: "(c) SUPPORT.-In carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary is encouraged to use contracts, cooperative agree- ments, and grants with colleges and universities and other non- Federal entities.".

2006
The CE Invasive Species Leadership Team (ISLT) is established for the purpose of providing recommendations to HQUSACE on invasive species priorities for action, providing strategic direction to ongoing research programs, and representing the CE on regional invasive species councils.

2009
The Chief, Operations, Directorate of Civil Works signs the Policy regarding Guidance on Authorities for Project Specific Restrictions to Manage the Introduction of Invasive Species.

2010
The CE decides that the FY 2012 budget will not have funding for the APC program.