Aquatic Plant Management Society

What Aquatic Plant Management Society does

The Aquatic Plant Management Society (APMS), founded in 1961 as the Hyacinth Control Society and renamed in 1976, is an international 501(c)(5)-style non-profit professional membership organization headquartered in Holly Springs, North Carolina (PO Box 754). It operates with 1-10 employees and serves scientists, educators, students, commercial pesticide applicators, administrators, and concerned individuals across federal/state/local agencies, universities, corporations, and small businesses focused on the management and study of aquatic plants. Its mission is to provide a forum for the discovery and dissemination of scientific information that advances aquatic plant and algae management policy and practice.

The society's core products are the Journal of Aquatic Plant Management — an international Open Access scientific journal published since 1962 with a 2023 Impact Factor of 1.2 — the Aquatic Plant News newsletter (issued three times annually by email), and the Annual Meetings (65th in Providence, RI in July 2025; 66th in Phoenix, AZ in July 2026). Supporting programs include the Michael D. Netherland Graduate Student Research Grant, a multi-category APMS Awards Program, and educational resources such as the Silent Invaders Video (co-developed with the University of Florida), the Herbicide Resistance Stewardship Program (with WSSA), and the Understanding Invasive Aquatic Weeds Activity Book. Delivery is extended through seven regional/state chapters (Florida, MidSouth, Midwest, Northeast, South Carolina, Texas, Western) and reciprocal affiliations with WSSA, NALMS, AERF, CAST, RISE, BASS, and Women of Aquatics.

APMS monetizes via a three-tier annual membership subscription: Individual ($115/year), Student ($25/year), and Sustaining ($600/year), with terms running July 1 to June 30. There is no proprietary technology stack, no app, no public APIs, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors drawn from institutions such as the University of Florida, North Carolina State University, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Utah State University, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Hampshire DES, and corporate members including SePRO, UPL NA, Aquatic Control, SOLitude, Cygnet Enterprises, and The Orion Companies.

Name

Aquatic Plant Management Society

Legal name

Aquatic Plant Management Society, Inc.

Website

https://apms.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Aquatic Plant Management Society is an international non-profit professional membership organization, founded in 1961, that serves scientists, educators, students, applicators, and government agencies through a peer-reviewed journal, annual meetings, regional chapters, and educational resources for aquatic plant and algae management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Scientific Society

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE), Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advisory (AFACABAE)

Keywords

• Aquatic plant management
• Professional scientific society
• Peer-reviewed publications
• Invasive species research
• Membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Venus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from three classes: Individual ($115), Student ($25), and Sustaining ($600). Membership term begins July 1 each year, with members who join after March 1 receiving privileges through the next term.
2. Sustaining Memberships: Premium organizational memberships at $600/year that include membership privileges for one designated representative, journal subscription, newsletter access, Aquatics magazine subscription, and recognition in publications and website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Aquatic Plant Management Society (APMS) is a non-profit professional membership organization that advances the science and practice of aquatic plant management through peer-reviewed publications (Journal of Aquatic Plant Management), annual scientific conferences, educational outreach, and graduate student research grants. It serves as the international forum for scientists, educators, students, commercial pesticide applicators, and government administrators involved in biological, mechanical, and chemical management of nuisance aquatic plants.

Product overview

The Aquatic Plant Management Society operates as a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered on aquatic plant science and management. The core offerings include the Journal of Aquatic Plant Management (scientific publication since 1962), the Aquatic Plant News newsletter (3x/year), and Annual Meetings as primary knowledge dissemination channels. Supporting these are the Michael D. Netherland Graduate Student Research Grant program, an APMS Awards Program recognizing contributions to the field, and educational resources including the Silent Invaders Video, Herbicide Resistance Stewardship Program, and Understanding Invasive Aquatic Weeds Activity Book. The membership tiers (Individual, Student, Sustaining) provide access to all publications and events. The society's mission is supported through these coordinated offerings that advance research, education, and outreach in aquatic plant and algae management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• APMS Membership Three-tier membership structure including Individual ($115/year), Student ($25/year), and Sustaining ($600/year) memberships providing access to publications, annual meetings, voting rights, and member directory listings.
• Journal of Aquatic Plant Management An international Open Access scientific journal published since 1962 (originally as Hyacinth Control Journal), featuring original research, reviews, and short communications on aquatic plant biology, ecology, vegetation management, field operations, and regulations. 2023 Impact Factor of 1.2.
• Aquatic Plant News Newsletter produced three times per year and distributed by email, covering society news, announcements, and industry updates related to aquatic plant management.
• APMS Annual Meetings Annual conferences bringing together scientists, educators, students, and industry professionals for knowledge sharing, scientific presentations, networking, student competitions, and awards ceremonies (e.g., 65th Annual Meeting July 14-17, 2025 in Providence, RI; 66th Annual Meeting July 13-16, 2026 in Phoenix, AZ).
• Michael D. Netherland Graduate Student Research Grant Academic grant program co-sponsored by APMS and regional chapters that supports graduate student research in aquatic plant or algae management or ecology, awarding $40,000-$55,000 over a two-year duration. Since 1999, APMS has awarded $450,000 in graduate student research grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 1999, APMS has awarded $450,000 in Graduate Student Research Grants to support research in aquatic plant or algae management.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Florida Aquatic Plant Management SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter affiliate providing local networking, meetings, and professional development for aquatic plant management professionals in Florida.
• MidSouth Aquatic Plant Management SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter affiliate serving members in the MidSouth region, co-sponsoring Graduate Student Research Grants.
• Midwest Aquatic Plant Management SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter affiliate providing local membership services and meetings in the Midwest region.
• Northeast Aquatic Plant Management SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter affiliate serving the Northeast region with local events and networking opportunities.
• South Carolina Aquatic Plant Management SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter affiliate serving South Carolina, co-sponsoring Graduate Student Research Grants.
• Texas Aquatic Plant Management SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter affiliate providing Texas-based members with local meetings and professional development.
• Western Aquatic Plant Management SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chapter affiliate serving the Western United States, previously co-hosted the 2019 Annual Meeting in San Diego.
• Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation (AERF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit foundation conducting applied research in management of aquatic pest species, with focus on nuisance vegetation control.
• Weed Science Society of America (WSSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional society with approximately 2,000 scientists worldwide; APMS has special representative representation.
• North American Lake Management Society (NALMS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSociety dedicated to forging partnerships among citizens, scientists, and professionals to foster lake and reservoir management.
• Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization representing manufacturers and distributors of pesticide products.
• Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary collaboration fostering research in weed management and distributing associated knowledge.
• BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation-focused organization with shared interest in aquatic ecosystem health.
• Women of AquaticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting women in the aquatic plant management field.
• University of FloridamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with APMS to create the national Silent Invaders video, relevant to all regions across the U.S. for teaching about invasive aquatic plants.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• North American Lake Management Society: Professional society dedicated to lake and reservoir management. Directly comparable to APMS as a member-based nonprofit advancing science, education, and best practices in aquatic ecosystems; APMS itself lists NALMS as a strategic partner.
• Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation: Nonprofit foundation funding applied research on aquatic pest species and nuisance vegetation control. Highly comparable to APMS as a peer nonprofit operating in the same scientific domain with overlapping membership and partnership.
• Society of Wetland Scientists: International professional society of wetland scientists and managers. Comparable professional society model and audience (scientists, managers, students) addressing overlapping aquatic-vegetation and ecosystem science topics.

Broad incumbents

• Weed Science Society of America: Larger, established scientific society (~2,000 members) covering weed science broadly, including aquatic weeds. APMS has special representative representation in WSSA, and the two collaborate on the Herbicide Resistance Stewardship Program.
• American Water Resources Association: Broader multi-disciplinary professional association for water resources management, encompassing aquatic ecology, hydrology, and water policy. Comparable professional society model with overlapping water-resource practitioner audience.
• Soil and Water Conservation Society: Professional society advancing conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources. Comparable member-based nonprofit scientific society with overlap in vegetation management and conservation practitioners.
• International Society of Limnology: International scientific society covering inland water ecosystems (limnology). Comparable professional-society model with overlapping audience of aquatic scientists and researchers publishing on water plants and ecosystem management.

Emerging players

• Council for Agricultural Science and Technology: Interdisciplinary scientific organization that assembles and disseminates research in agriculture, including weed management. APMS maintains a special representative to CAST, indicating overlapping scientific-policy audience.

Others

• SePRO Corporation: Aquatic plant management product manufacturer whose leadership (Immediate Past President) sits on APMS's board. Not a peer society, but representative of the corporate/applicator ecosystem that APMS serves.
• SOLitude Lake Management: Nationwide commercial lake and waterbody management firm that is an APMS sustaining member. Comparable audience (commercial applicators and lake managers) but a for-profit service provider rather than a scientific society.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/APMS1961
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquatic-plant-management-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/apmsociety?igshid=3w7sexfmxney
• Xx.com/APMSociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aquatic Plant Management Society