Pond ProblemsPond Problems

Typical problemsTypical problems

• Aquatic weed identification and controlAquatic weed identification and control– http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/

• Low (no) waterLow (no) water• Fish stocking or restockingFish stocking or restocking• Grubs in fishGrubs in fish• GeeseGeese• Beaver and muskratsBeaver and muskrats• TurtlesTurtles

Aquatic Weed ControlAquatic Weed Control

• Treatment recommended when aquatic Treatment recommended when aquatic weeds cover more than 25 percent of weeds cover more than 25 percent of the pond’s surface area.the pond’s surface area.

• Types of controlTypes of control

– physicalphysical

– chemicalchemical

– biologicalbiological

Planktonic algae: Planktonic algae: essential, cause bloom,essential, cause bloom,shade pond bottom, butshade pond bottom, butcan cause fish kills by can cause fish kills by lowering Olowering O22

Aquaplant

Aquaplant

Filamentous algae:Filamentous algae:Single cells that form long chains and then float.Single cells that form long chains and then float.No known direct food value except for invertebrates.No known direct food value except for invertebrates.

Aquaplant

Chara:Chara:called muskgrass or skunkweed because of garlic-like odor,called muskgrass or skunkweed because of garlic-like odor,often confused with emerged flowering plants, crunchy textureoften confused with emerged flowering plants, crunchy texture.

AquaplantAquaplant

Floating PlantsFloating Plants(free floating or rooted with floating (free floating or rooted with floating

leaves)leaves)• DuckweedDuckweed

• WatermealWatermeal

• Water lilyWater lily

• American lotusAmerican lotus

Water lily

American lotus

Aquaplant

Aquaplant

Duckweed or watermeal?

Submerged plantsSubmerged plants(grow mainly below surface and have (grow mainly below surface and have

very soft stems)very soft stems)• PondweedsPondweeds

• ElodeaElodea

• WatermilfoilWatermilfoil

• CoontailCoontail

• NaiadsNaiads

• BladderwortBladderwort

American pondweed

Aquaplant

Sago pondweedSago pondweed

AquaplantAquaplant

Elodea- this is not hydrilla

Aquaplant

Water milfoil

Southern naiad

Aquaplant

Aquaplant

Aquaplant

Aquaplant

CoontailCoontail

Emergent plantsEmergent plants(rooted in water but most of foliage (rooted in water but most of foliage

above water)above water)

• ArrowheadArrowhead

• CattailCattail

• Water primroseWater primrose

Water primroseWater primrose

Aquaplant

AquaplantAquaplant

State quarantine

HydrillaHydrilla Purple loosestrifePurple loosestrife

King Co WA

Blue-green algaeBlue-green algae

Biological control Biological control

• Will fish control HABs?– Perhaps– Tilapia

• Stocking rate 25-50/ac adults• Digestion e ciency ranged from 58.6 to 78.1% at water ffi

temperature of 77°F.• Ingestion rate increased with increasing fish weight and

water temperature• Major problem is they die when water temperature is

below 55°F

– Grass carp?

Grass Carp as a Biological Grass Carp as a Biological Control of Aquatic WeedsControl of Aquatic Weeds

• Can be very effective but they are not a cure-Can be very effective but they are not a cure-all.all.

• May result in turbid water.May result in turbid water.• Overstocking can seriously effect sport fish Overstocking can seriously effect sport fish

populations.populations.• Cattails, spatterdock and filamentous algae Cattails, spatterdock and filamentous algae

are eaten last.are eaten last.• Results are not guaranteed.Results are not guaranteed.• Triploid onlyTriploid only

Grass Carp GuidelinesGrass Carp Guidelines

• Stock only if pond surface is more than 20 Stock only if pond surface is more than 20 percent covered in vegetation.percent covered in vegetation.

• Calculate pond size accurately.Calculate pond size accurately.• Total elimination of vegetation occurs at 30 fish Total elimination of vegetation occurs at 30 fish

(10-12 inches) per acre of vegetation.(10-12 inches) per acre of vegetation.• Vegetation control occurs at 15 fish (10-12 Vegetation control occurs at 15 fish (10-12

inches) per acre of vegetation.inches) per acre of vegetation.

Chemical ControlChemical Control

You must calculate the area You must calculate the area and volume of a body of waterand volume of a body of water

Volume = average length X average width X average depthVolume = average length X average width X average depth

Acre feet = surface area (acres) X average depthAcre feet = surface area (acres) X average depth

Area = length X widthArea = length X widthSurface area in acres = pond area in square feet/43,560Surface area in acres = pond area in square feet/43,560

Online calculatorhttp://www.pondcare.com/reference-center/pond-calculator/index.aspx

Approximate CostsApproximate Costs

coppercoppercomplexescomplexes 2, 4-D*2, 4-D* diquat*diquat* endothall*endothall* fluridonefluridone glyphosateglyphosate

Approximate costsApproximate costsTo apply/acre footTo apply/acre foot $8-16$8-16 $112-225 $170-340$112-225 $170-340 $48-430$48-430 $63-126$63-126 $150-225$150-225

*Livestock Drinking Restrictions*Livestock Drinking RestrictionsE = ExcellentE = ExcellentG = Good ControlG = Good ControlF = Fair ControlF = Fair ControlP = Poor ControlP = Poor Control

Labels change periodically. Labels change periodically. Read and follow label instructions and observe water use restrictions.Read and follow label instructions and observe water use restrictions.

Pond RenovationPond Renovation

• Is site suitable?Is site suitable?– NRCS for watershed size and soilsNRCS for watershed size and soils– Size and depthSize and depth

• Not a good idea to go deeper than originalNot a good idea to go deeper than original

• Drainpipe installationDrainpipe installation• SeepageSeepage• RotenoneRotenone

– Wait one month to restockWait one month to restock

• Fish structureFish structure

StockingStocking

• Starting over Starting over – Kill existing fish!!!! Kill existing fish!!!!

• Common stocking ratesCommon stocking rates– 400 bluegill fingerlings400 bluegill fingerlings– 100 red-eared sunfish fingerlings100 red-eared sunfish fingerlings– 100 catfish fingerlings100 catfish fingerlings– 100 largemouth bass fingerlings100 largemouth bass fingerlings

• www.kansasaquaculture.orgwww.kansasaquaculture.org

Response of common aquatic weeds to herbicidesResponse of common aquatic weeds to herbicides

Aquatic groupAquatic group coppercopperand weedand weed complexescomplexes 2, 4-D*2, 4-D* diquat*diquat* endothall*endothall* fluridonefluridone glyphosateglyphosate

AlgaeAlgaeplanktonicplanktonic EE PP PP PP PP PPfilamentousfilamentous EE PP EE G (hydro)G (hydro) PP PPchara chara EE PP GG G (hydro)G (hydro) PP PPnitellanitella EE PP GG G (hydro)G (hydro) PP PP

Floating PlantsFloating Plantsbladderwortbladderwort PP G (gran)G (gran) EE EEduckweedsduckweeds PP G (LV)G (LV) GG PP EEwater hyacinthwater hyacinth PP EE EE PP GGwatermealwatermeal PP PP P-FP-F F-GF-G

Response of common aquatic weeds to herbicidesResponse of common aquatic weeds to herbicides

Aquatic groupAquatic group coppercopperand weedand weed complexescomplexes 2, 4-D*2, 4-D* diquat*diquat* endothall*endothall* fluridonefluridone glyphosateglyphosate

Emergent PlantsEmergent PlantsAmerican lotusAmerican lotus PP EE PP PP FF GGarrowheadarrowhead PP EE GG GG EEcattailscattails PP GG GG PP FF EEwater lilywater lily PP EE PP EE EEsedges & rushessedges & rushes PP FF FF PP GGsmartweedsmartweed PP EE FF FF EEwater primrosewater primrose PP EE FF PP FF EEwillowswillows PP EE FF PP EE

Submersed PlantsSubmersed Plantsbroadleaf broadleaf

water milfoilwater milfoil PP EE EE EE PPcoontailcoontail PP GG EE EE EE PPelodeaelodea PP EE FF EE PPeurasian eurasian

water milfoilwater milfoil PP EE EE EE EE PPnaiadsnaiads PP FF EE EE EE PPpondweedspondweeds PP PP GG EE EE PP