Pristine lakes are beautiful to behold.
The crystal clear waters are a result of proper lake management.
While aquatic plants provide oxygen, shelter for fish, and aesthetic beauty, these plants can grow out of control and must be kept in check.
When dealing with vegetation, it is necessary to know any local regulations.
For example, if the homeowner is considering adding a certain type of vegetation, the effects of that on the already established aquatic plant life must be taken into consideration.
Plus, some species are considered invasive species and must not be added.
If you hire a lake management company to take care of your vegetation problems, they need to be trained, tested, and licensed in the proper handling of chemicals.
Properly used, the chemicals are effective, but there are safety considerations for those handling the chemicals, as well as considerations for any nearby animals or livestock, and of course humans.
Plants are a necessary part of a properly functioning lake.
They provide oxygen, protection, and food for various aquatic species.
They protect the shoreline from erosion.
However, vegetation overgrowth from floating, submerged, or emergent plants is always a possibility.
There is more than one way to manage these nuisance plants.
There may be more than one technique used for weed control.
Adding an aeration system may be part of the solution.
Chemical control is another.
The types of plants that are permitted to grow is another aspect of the solution.
Sometimes invasive species need to be removed and replaced with native species.
There is a balance that must be maintained in the lake between all factors of oxygenation, vegetation, and aquatic species.
What is the purpose of aquatic plants? They provide oxygen.
They filter and clarify the water by absorbing nutrients that could produce algae blooms.
They help prevent the invasion of non-native species.
They provide cover for fish, not only for protection, but also for reproductive habitats.
And they provide cover to forage fish.
Not only is the management of the aquatic plants important, the management of plants protecting the shoreline from erosion are important as well.
The type of root system of the plants is important.
Plants with shallow roots do not do as well as native plants with deeper roots.
The deeper roots help hold and stabilize the soil.
Plants along the shoreline encourage the rainfall to soak in rather than runoff into the lake or pond.
The deeper the roots, the greater the stabilizing effect.
Nutrients and sediment entering the lake affect the overall health and dynamics of the lake.
Taking care of the plants surrounding the lake, as well as those in the lake itself, is all part of good lake management.