aquatic plant control – Aquarius-Systems

Mechanical Methods for Aquatic Plant Control Explained

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 16:00:32 +0000

Mechanical control methods involve the complete or partial removal of plants by mechanical means, including: harvesting, shredding, mowing, rototilling, rotovating, and chaining. These management techniques for plants rarely result in localized eradication of the species, but rather, reduce target plant abundance to non-nuisance levels.

Mechanical Harvesting – A mechanical aquatic harvester (harvester) is a type of barge used for a variety of tasks, including aquatic plant management and trash removal in rivers, lakes, bays, and harbors. Harvesters are designed to collect and unload vegetation and debris using a conveyor system on a boom, adjustable to the appropriate cutting height, up to 6 feet below the surface of the water.

Shredding – Swamp Devils and Cookie cutters are small barges designed to shred aquatic weeds, equipped with engine-powered, front-mounted blades. The cookie cutter was developed to address emergent aquatic vegetation and floating islands of vegetation and sediment, and to cut openings in shoreline and wetland areas through emergent wetland plants (USACE).

Mechanical Control Methods – USACE

Grass Carp are Illegal to Use as Aquatic Plant Control

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 16:53:10 +0000

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.

Many times, pond owners ask if they can use grass carp to solve their excessive aquatic plant growth problem. The answer is “no,” as they are an illegal species to possess in the state of Michigan, except under a Michigan Department of Natural Resources permit for education or research purposes. This is often confusing to Michigan residents as the neighboring states of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio allow the use of grass carp under certain conditions with the proper permit.

Invasive Milfoil Threatens Colorado Waterways and Irrigation

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 21:03:48 +0000

A highly invasive aquatic weed has been discovered in a number of ponds in the Animas Valley in Colorado, putting the heat on to eradicate it before it enters the Animas River and, potentially, Lake Nighthorse.

The invasive weed aggressively outgrows and outcompetes native aquatic plants. It can then clog irrigation systems and ponds, and even push out native species of fish and other aquatic life.

So far, four ponds have been treated with an aquatic herbicide to remove the Eurasian watermilfoil, but the success of the effort won’t truly be known until next growing season to see if the plant greens up.

The American Hippo Bill and Water Hyacinth Control Efforts

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 01:12:00 +0000

In 1909, the United States was suffering a shortage of meat. At the same time, Louisiana’s waterways were being choked by invasive water hyacinth. The solution seemed to be simple, the American Hippo Bill. Hippos could be imported to the United States to eat the water hyacinth and people can eat the hippos.

The bill did not pass as hippos are ill-tempered apex predators and not cooperative for ranching. However, the idea was not completely ridiculous.

In 2015, hippopotamuses from Botswana were used in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as a biological control of water hyacinth. Researchers also used Florida manatees and giant guinea pig-like rodents from Brazil called capybaras to control the invasive aquatic plants.

In their native habitat, hippos mainly eat aquatic plants, including hyacinth, which they devour at a rate of 200 to 300 pounds a day. Special measures needed to be taken to keep onlookers at bay as the ill-tempered hippos are highly territorial and would likely attack people who encroach on their turf.

Aquatic Weed Harvesters Are a Long-Term, Cost-Effective Solution

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:28:03 +0000

It is exhausting reading about lake after lake after lake becoming infested with an over abundance of aquatic vegetation. This plant material not only negatively affects water quality, the health of the fishery, recreation, aesthetics, but it is financially devastating as well.

It affects tourism; bait shops, marinas, hotels, restaurants. It affects lake property owners; taxes, resale values. And it affects the community as whole when it comes time to right the wrong caused by the overabundance of vegetation.

Determining how to manage the vegetation often times divides communities and neighbors. There are enormous lists of pros and cons related to each method and $$$$ seems to be a hot spot.

This 30-years old Aquatic Plant Harvester is still operational and in use in Russia.

Proponents of mechanical harvesting deem it as expensive. Some articles list expense as a problem with aquatic plant harvesters as a control method. Of course the equipment does involve a capital investment, but amortized over the 10+ year lifetime and it becomes a very cost effective option.

A weed harvester is also economical to operate, using only 1.5 gallons of diesel per hour. Workers are often volunteers or part time summer help and if regular maintenance is performed (just like you take care of the car you drive) no expensive repairs are required. Plus as a bonus, aquatic weed harvesters have resale value. Contractors often look for used equipment and since the machines operate for 10 – 20 – 30 years, they sell quickly.

When it comes time to select a control method for aquatic vegetation, please contact us before judging mechanical harvesting as too expensive. While the upfront price may seem too much, think of it as a long term investment. An investment into the next decade!