Aquatic plants provide habitat for fish and aquatic insects, and provide oxygen to the water when the sun is out. When there is excessive aquatic plant growth, problems arise as those additional plants consume oxygen during the night and on cloudy days. This can drive oxygen levels down, which could be detrimental to the fish.
The Department of Natural Resources has completed a Strategic Analysis of Aquatic Plant Management (APM) in Wisconsin, summarizing current information on APM and potential management alternatives. The Strategic Analysis report [PDF] will help inform decision-makers and the public about this topic and aid in the development of future APM policy. While aquatic plants are a
Aquatic plants, whether invasive or native, can be described as either a mess or a resource. Natural plant growth covers 20 – 40% of the water and includes a diversity of plants. However, invasive plants such as Eurasian watermilfoil, hydrilla and water hyacinth quickly take over a lake covering 60% and sometimes 100% of the