If good fishing is your goal, the plants in your pond should be managed, not eradicated.
by Barbara Bassett, Donna Menown, Craig Gemming, illustrated by Rebecca Haefner
Spring may be unpredictable in Missouri, but the fisheries biologists at the Conservation Department know they an count on one thing -- a big increase in requests for help with "water weeds" in ponds.
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Unwanted aquatic plants are the number-one pond maintenance problem in Missouri. They make their appearance every year with the arrival of warmer temperatures, and continue to annoy pond owners throughout the summer and fall.
Our fisheries biologists help pond owners identify the problem plants and choose a control method when necessary. In some cases, they may decide there really isn't a problem and recommend leaving the plants as they are. A moderate amount of water plants is actually good for a pond or lake; only when they are growing rampantly should they be controlled.
The purpose of this article is to help pond and lake owners solve their own water plant problems, using the same approach our biologists use. It will help you evaluate your pond, identify the most common nuisance water plants in Missouri, and become familiar with aquatic plant control methods. (These control methods are described in more detail in various Conservation Department Aquaguides, available at Conservation Department fisheries management district offices.)
It also encourages greater tolerance for aquatic plants on the part of pond owners. Most types of water plants never cause problems in ponds and lakes, and even nuisance species do not always grow excessively. In moderate numbers, water plants contribute greatly to a healthy aquatic environment. They deserve a place in every pond.
