Plants Found In Midwest Lakes

Lakes and ponds are amazing community assets. In addition to collecting stormwater runoff, they create opportunities for homeowners to enjoy kayaking, swimming, fishing, nature watching, and more. Watching a stunning sunset over the water is one of life’s simplest joys. But have you ever looked across a lake, pond, or other waterway and wondered what lay below the waters?

You might be surprised to learn that there is actually a wide variety of aquatic plants among and within the different areas of the U.S. The Midwest is home to many species that epitomize the unique beauty of the region. It has also become home to non-native aquatic plants that are degrading beneficial ecosystems. Understanding the most common species, and how they can be identified, is one of the best ways to begin preserving the health of waterbodies in your community.

Arrowhead or Sagittaria latifolia gets its name from its leaves that form arrows with 3 distinct points. Its roots have potato-like tubers growing in the mucky ground that are eaten by waterfowl, muskrats, and other species.

• Size and Shape: Arrowhead plants grow up to 4 feet tall with long stalks and leaves.
• Appearance: Arrowhead is embedded in shallow waters with stalks and leaves that emerge from the water. It sometimes contains a flower near its leaf which is composed of white or pink sepals and petals.
• A Food Source: Since arrowhead has potato-like tubers, it can be used as a food source for not just animals, but people as well – when prepared properly. In fact, past Native Americans used this as an ingredient in their meals.
• Controlling Arrowhead: If desired, arrowhead overgrowths can be curbed with applications of highly-targeted herbicides by a licensed professional. 
• Located: Arrowhead can be found in every state in the Midwest including Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota as well as every state, with the exception of Nevada and Alaska.

Chara, also commonly known as muskgrass, is often found in clear, hard water. Although it can be easily mistaken for coontail or milfoil, it has a gristly film thanks to mineral deposits and can give off a ‘musky’ odor when squeezed.

• Size and Shape: Chara is cylindrical and can grow several feet long with whorled branches that have 6 to 15 off-shooting branches
• Appearance: Chara, or muskgrass, is a bright green (lighter than most aquatic plants) viney plant with spindly branches and leaves. It has no flowers and does not emerge above the water’s surface.
• Finding a Balance: Chara can help support healthy water quality as it helps stabilize nutrients and provides habitat for fish. But note, Chara also grows rapidly and can quickly overtake ponds if not monitored.
• Controlling Chara: For the most part, chara is largely beneficial to lakes and ponds and should be monitored, but not fully removed. In the case of overgrowth, hand-pulling, cutting, and certain EPA-registered herbicides may be applied by licensed professionals.
• Located: Chara is found in lakes and lagoons with brackish water, particularly in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and parts of Wisconsin.

Curly-Leaf pondweed, or Potamogeton crispus, is yet another aquatic plant known for forming dense mats that impede recreational activities. Unlike many other similar plants, it does not create habitats or serve as a food source for fish and wildlife. It is also susceptible to mid-season die-offs, resulting in algae and dead plants littered along shorelines.

• Size and Shape: Curly-leaf pondweed consists of one large stem that can grow to be 15 feet long. It has oblong leaves that grow from 4 to 10 centimeters long and 5 to 10 millimeters wide.
• Appearance: Rooted and fully submerged, this aquatic plant varies in color from olive green to a rust-brown and has wavy or ‘curly’ leaves extending from it. It can sometimes have a green flower stalk that extends above the surface.
• One of Many: Curly-leaf pondweed is another plant with lots of close relatives. These include broad-leaf pondweed, clasping-leaf pondweed, and narrow-leaf pondweed – to name just a few. Curly-leaf pondweed is best distinguished by its curly, almost serrated-looking leaves.
• Controlling Curly-Leaf Pondweed: Mechanical harvesting and herbicide applications are both effective, but preventing curly-leaf pondweed is key. Before leaving a site, make sure to wash all watercraft, drain water, dispose of bait in the trash (rather than reusing in new lakes), and dry out equipment for 3 weeks before using it in a new waterbody.
• Located: Similar to Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed is highly invasive and can be found throughout the U.S., including Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Aquatic plants have the ability to enhance our experience on the water OR distract from the beauty of the ecosystem. When left unchecked, they can even ruin activities that normally bring people together. Property managers who can differentiate between beneficial and undesirable species are better able to keep their waterbodies healthy and beautiful – and keep their residents happy and engaged in the community.

Property managers can empower themselves by partnering with a freshwater management provider that specializes in monitoring lakes and ponds for nuisance and invasive species. Through a professional annual management program, community leaders can access a wide array of solutions to tackle their unique waterbody challenges. These include ongoing water quality testing, nutrient remediation, fountains and aeration, biological bacteria, shoreline maintenance and restoration, and mechanical hydro-raking and dredging. When supported by the scientific expertise of lake management professionals, property managers can spend more time on other priorities.