WHAT IS AQUATIC PLANT MANAGEMENT?

It’s the removal of and/or the control of unwanted plants and algae in your lake or pond.
There are three types of aquatic plants found in ponds and lakes:
• Invasive plants
• Natural plants
• Weeds (plants you don’t want)

Invasive plants have a rapid growth rate and can quickly cover the surface of a pond/lake and can be noxious.

These are examples of some common Invasive plants that we successfully treat:
Click on the image for larger view

Hydrilla*

Parrot Feather

Waterchestnut

Watershield

Water Hyacinth

Giant Salvinia*

Brittle Naiad

*these plants are on the Federal Registry of Noxious Weeds.

Examples of some other common aquatic plants:
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Water Lilly

Lotus

Waterlettuce

Cattails

Duckweed

Yellow Primrose

American Pondweed

Aquatic Weeds
Any aquatic plant that has taken over a pond/lake choking out other plants Aquatic plants are integral to a healthy and diverse lake/pond. These plants contribute oxygen, provide habitat and breeding areas, provide food for fish, waterfowl and wildlife and help protect shorelines from erosion.

The bad news, and all too common problem for pond owners, is excessive growth of aquatic plants. If aquatic plants are allowed to grow unchecked the health of the lake/pond can be at risk. Excessive growth creates an imbalance in the ecosystem, is unsightly and can prevent recreational use. These plants need to be controlled.

There are three categories of aquatic plants:
Emergent – plants growing in boggy areas and including shallow water.
Example would be parrot feather
Submersed – most of the plant grows underwater. These plants supply oxygen and spread by fragmentation.
Example would be waterchestnut, hydrilla
Free Floating - roots/stems grow under water but the vegetation floats on the surface.
Example would be duckweed, watershield

Algae – What is it? Algae is a primitive plant closely related to fungi and in some instances can be toxic. There are many types of algae, the most common are plantonic, filamentous and attached erect forms. It can be a source of oxygen and can be a primary food source for many aquatic animals. With high nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorous) level algae will multiply rapidly creating a bloom. Algae die offs and decay can result in rapid reduction of oxygen in the water seriously endangering fish and other aquatic organisms. Aesthetically algae not only looks unsightly it’s likely to give off an unpleasant odor.