How to Get Rid of Undesirable Aquatic Weeds and Algae
Nuisance aquatic vegetation and algae has a big impact on the beauty and ecological balance of your lake or pond. Algae and lake weed control is particularly important to the health and quality of any aquatic ecosystem. And at SOLitude Lake Management, we know how to get rid of algae and undesirable aquatic weeds.
As a SePRO Preferred Applicator, SOLitude utilizes the most advanced products and practices. We provide our clients with high-quality environmentally conscious algae and aquatic weed management services.
Our lake weed control and algae control solutions help eliminate:
- Common Lake and Pond Algae
- Harmful Algal Blooms and Toxic Algae (Blue-green Algae)
- Golden Algae
- Nuisance Aquatic Weeds
- Invasive Aquatic Weeds
The Importance of Identifying Algae and Aquatic Weeds
Invasive algae and aquatic weeds are not only unsightly, but can sometimes be a danger to aquatic life and humans depending on the species. They can cause many water quality problems and be a detriment to aquatic ecosystems, while also hiding a lake’s true beauty. Properly identifying the target algae and aquatic weeds growing in your pond is an important factor in achieving the desired result.
Choosing the right product and applying it at the right rates at the right times will provide you with lasting results.
Algae Control
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Phytoplankton, better known as algae, are present in all lakes and ponds. While more than 30,000 species of algae are known to exist, we generally only become aware of it when it reaches nuisance levels that negatively impact aesthetics, recreation, water quality and ecological balance. Algae can appear in many forms and colors, and thrive on excess nutrients in the water and requires sunlight for growth.
People often ask us how to kill algae in a pond. We utilize a variety of EPA-registered aquatic herbicides to control algae blooms, but proactive management is the best way to ensure long term management of your aquatic ecosystem.
Undesirable algae blooms can be an indication of excess nutrient loading, low dissolved oxygen levels or other water quality imbalances. It’s important to consult with an aquatic management professional to properly identify the source of your algae problems and design a custom management plan using the following solutions:
Managing Harmful Algal Blooms and Toxic Algae
HABs can occur naturally, but have been a problem for decades due to the negative environmental impacts associated with mass urban development and pollution. In recent years, private research and greater public awareness around the subject of HABs have brought nationwide attention to dangerous cyanobacteria blooms plaguing some of the largest lakes in the country.
In addition to interfering with recreation, cyanobacteria can threaten agriculture and drinking water resources, supporting the current evidence that exposure to cyanotoxins may lead to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The blue-green algae capable of producing the dangerous toxin can be found in almost any waterbody, even those as small as a stormwater pond or ditch.
Golden Algae
Golden algae — unicellular organisms found in freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers, have the ability to produce a toxin that disrupts respiration in gill-breathing organisms like fish, crayfish and some amphibians. After exposure to the toxin, gills fail to properly absorb oxygen from the water, causing the species to bleed internally and eventually die from asphyxiation. Long-term lake management plans, which focus on early detection and rapid response, have proven overwhelmingly successful in preventing growth of harmful algal blooms. Rather than attempting to put a band-aid on the problem, custom management plans work to inhibit or reduce the dominance of these toxic species. SOLitude’s aquatic management experts may prescribe the professional application of an EPA-registered aquatic algaecide if the blooms are out of hand. Targeted algaecides can quickly eradicate golden algae and resulting toxins present throughout the water column without impacting fish or wildlife.
Nuisance Aquatic Weed Control
Some aquatic plants may simply be a nuisance, whether they are limiting access to water for recreational use or become an eyesore in your lake or pond. SOLitude is experienced to implement management plans to control nuisance aquatic weeds that have taken over your waterbody.
Once the aquatic ecosystem is restored to balance, it’s important to implement proactive annual management strategies to ensure that the nuisance aquatic weeds don’t return.
Sustainable lake algae removal and invasive species management is a primary objective when developing a maintenance plan. Lake management professionals utilize many products and services to prevent algae and spearhead lake weed control. Some ponds can simply be managed through the application of nutrient remediation products such as Alum, Phoslock, or Biochar—or, biological control measures such as stocking triploid grass carp.
The main goal of a successful lake algae control plan is to limit and reduce the nutrients in the water. Avoid grass clippings, leaves, fertilizer and other nutrient loaded organic debris from getting into your water body. Limit mowing around the edges of your lake or pond to help establish a protective vegetative buffer. Lake weed control starts with a professional who understands these options and how to best use them to prevent algae and resolve your aquatic weed issue. Preventing algae blooms is important because although blooms often begin as small areas, they can grow rapidly if untreated. Filamentous and planktonic algae are the two basic types of algae found in lakes and ponds. Filamentous algae is long, stringy and slimy and grows in large mats or patches. Patches of filamentous algae are often bright green with shades of brown mixed in. Planktonic algae is usually light green, but sometimes there are blooms of red planktonic algae. To prevent algae, the main goal is to limit and reduce the nutrients in the water.Early identification will also greatly reduce the expense associated with lake weed control. Monitoring is a key component to any pond treatment or invasive species management program. With regular inspections of your sites, our specialists can determine which product will best prevent algae from proliferating, or if your bond could benefit from lake algae removal and lake weed control services.
One of these services is dredging and hydro-raking. This lake weed removal technology can deepen your waterbody dramatically. There are several methods of sediment removal: hydraulic dredging, clam shell/ backhoe dredging, dry dredging and hydro-raking. The chosen method will depend on a number of factors including sediment composition, environmental sensitivity, volumes of materials removed, budget and disposal considerations.Hydro-raking is frequently chosen as a method for lake weed control. This machine removes nuisance aquatic vegetation, root structures, debris and soft organic sediment on a smaller scale waterbody. The hydro-rake can best be described as a floating barge upon which is mounted a backhoe with a digging bucket or rake capable of removing accumulated muck in water as shallow as 18 inches. Hydro-raking can effectively target lake weed accumulations in coves and other shallow areas that grow toxic lake algae.
Invasive Aquatic Weed Control
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Invasive plants are species that were introduced to an area that is outside of their natural range. Once established, these invasive species tend to dominate the area, out competing native species and, in some cases, destroy the overall ecosystem by eliminating all native plants and making the area useless to the animal life that once called these areas home.
Invasive species are typically characterized as adaptable and aggressive, with a very high reproductive rate. Their aggressive nature when combined with a general lack of natural enemies or predators often leads to major outbreaks that can dominate quickly and be very hard to control. It’s important to detect invasive species as soon as possible, and to implement a management plan to control them.
An annual management plan will reduce the chances of your aquatic resources from experiencing a serious algae or aquatic weed problem.
Click on the button below or call 855-593-8556 to speak with the experts at SOLitude Lake Management to discuss a pond weed and algae management plan for your property.
