That connection does not stop on land. It continues below the surface of our lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Aquatic plants play a critical role in maintaining water quality and supporting life. They produce oxygen, stabilize sediments, absorb nutrients, and provide essential habitat for fish, waterfowl, and invertebrates. In many ways, they are the foundation of a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Without them, water bodies can quickly lose balance.

However, like any natural system, balance is key. Too little vegetation can lead to erosion, poor habitat, and declining water quality. Too much growth can restrict water flow, limit recreation, and contribute to issues like low oxygen levels and algae blooms as plants die and decompose. Excess nutrients from runoff, changing weather patterns, and other environmental pressures can all shift that balance in the wrong direction.

Managing aquatic plants is not about removing them entirely. It is about maintaining a healthy, functional system. Mechanical harvesting and targeted removal can control excessive growth while preserving beneficial vegetation. Aquarius Systems has worked with lake managers, municipalities, and contractors to remove overgrowth in a way that improves water flow, supports recreation, and helps maintain overall water quality.

Healthy aquatic plant communities lead to clearer water, stronger ecosystems, and better recreational opportunities. Whether you are managing a lake, river, or pond, understanding the role of aquatic plants is an important step toward long term water health.

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Glyphosate is one of the most heavily used herbicides in the world. Regulatory decisions surrounding its approval have relied on research evaluating toxicity, exposure limits, and environmental impact. When a study that helped shape public confidence is pulled back, it naturally raises broader questions. Science is meant to evolve. That’s not a flaw — it’s the process. But it does highlight the importance of independent review, long-term data, and open disclosure of funding and methodology.

The same framework applies to aquatic herbicides used in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. These products are also deemed safe when applied according to label directions, based on studies measuring water concentration levels, species sensitivity, and breakdown rates. Yet water systems are complex. Variables such as temperature, oxygen levels, sediment composition, and nutrient loading all influence outcomes in real-world conditions. Ongoing evaluation matters.

For communities managing aquatic vegetation, the discussion often comes down to balancing effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact. Mechanical harvesting, for example, physically removes vegetation from the water body — along with the nutrients contained in that plant material. Left in place, excessive vegetation eventually dies and decomposes, releasing nutrients that can contribute to algae blooms and reduced oxygen levels. Different management tools bring different trade-offs.

What the glyphosate retraction ultimately reinforces is this: sound environmental decisions depend on sound science. That science must be transparent, repeatable, and open to scrutiny. Whether addressing agricultural weeds or aquatic vegetation, long-term ecosystem health depends on continually testing assumptions and being willing to re-examine conclusions when new information emerges.

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A Message from Our Leader: Looking Back, Planning Ahead for Our Lakes

As the Leaves Fall, Harvesting Winds Down

When Communities and Harvesters Work Hand in Hand

What’s Really Happening Beneath the Water?

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A Message from Our Leader: Nature Always Prevails

Hidden Dangers Increase Drowning Risks in Reservoirs

Invasive Species Demand Cooperation, Not Quick Fixes

Balancing Ecology and Community Needs

Upcoming Conferences

• Wisconsin Stormwater Week
• California Lake Management Society 39th Annual Conference
• Florida Lake Management Society 36th Annual Technical Symposium
• Washington State Lake Protection Association 38th Annual Conference
• Oregon Lake Association Conference
• North American Lake Management Society 45th International Symposium

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A Message from Our Leader: “More rum than fun!”

A Wake-Up Call for Our Waters

The Hidden Water Cost of AI

Wake Surfing – All Eyes on Wisconsin

Upcoming Conferences

• Florida Lake Management Society 36th Annual Technical Symposium
• California Lake Management Society 39th Annual Conference

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Chemical Treatments: A Short-Term Fix That Makes Things Worse
Many lake managers turn to algaecides and herbicides to control harmful algae. On the surface, these treatments may look effective, but the reality is very different.

When algae are killed by chemicals, the cells release toxins directly into the water. The dead material then sinks, decomposes, and consumes oxygen—creating hypoxic conditions that stress or kill fish. Low oxygen also triggers internal nutrient release from sediments, fueling the very blooms that the chemicals were meant to stop.

Instead of restoring balance, chemical treatments can lock lakes into a cycle of recurring blooms and declining water quality.

Looking at the Surface Isn’t Enough
It’s common to judge a lake’s health by what can be seen at the surface—clear water, healthy oxygen levels near the top, or visible fish. But many lakes stratify, with deeper waters cut off from oxygen. While the surface looks fine, the bottom layers can be oxygen-depleted and nutrient-rich.

Fish crowded near the surface aren’t thriving—they’re escaping conditions that are deadly below.

Runoff Isn’t the Only Problem
Nutrient runoff from land is an important driver of algae, but it’s not the only one. Sediments at the bottom of lakes often act as storage banks for phosphorus and nitrogen. When oxygen levels drop, these nutrients are released back into the water, feeding new blooms year after year.

Focusing only on reducing runoff misses the internal nutrient cycle already at work inside the lake.

The Limits of Simple Metrics
Common tools like the Trophic State Index (TSI) are often used to measure lake health. But they mostly track surface-level data like clarity and nutrient concentrations. These numbers don’t reveal what’s happening in deeper waters, or how sediments and oxygen loss are driving long-term decline.

A Call for Smarter Lake Management
The misconceptions around lake health—and the overreliance on chemicals—are keeping many lakes stuck in poor condition. Chemical treatments may offer short-term relief, but they create long-term problems.

To break the cycle, management strategies need to focus on oxygen restoration, sediment nutrient control, and ecosystem balance. Prevention and smarter monitoring are also key to creating lakes that are resilient, healthy, and able to support aquatic life for generations.

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A Message from Our Leader: Clean, Drain, Dry Keeps Lakes Healthy

July is Lakes Appreciation Month—Let’s Celebrate!

When Waterway Management Turns Harmful

Anglers & Boaters are Champions Against AIS

Upcoming Conferences

• Aquatic Plant Management Society 65th Annual Meeting
• Florida Lake Management Society 36th Annual Symposium

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A Message from Our Leader: Hazy, Crazy Summer at Aquarius Systems

Study Links Tap Water to PFAS in Craft Beer

Making a Dam Difference in Oregon

Protecting Lake Coeur d’Alene from Hidden Pollution

Upcoming Conferences

• New Hampshire Lakes Lakes Congress
• Maine Lakes & Lake Stewards Annual Conference

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A Message from Our Leader: Repurposing Aquatic Weeds

Water Hyacinth Fights Against Microplastic Pollution

Turning Water Hyacinth into Opportunity

Your Guide to Water Hyacinth Solutions

Upcoming Conferences

• 2025 Aquatic Weed Harvesting Seminar
• New Hampshire Lakes Lakes Congress
• Maine Lakes & Lake Stewards Annual Conference

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A Message from Our Leader: Plastic Pollution in our Waterways

Celebrating Earth Day: A Commitment to Our Planet

Floating Debris Removal System Cleans Milwaukee’s Kinnickinnic River

Loss of Aquatic Plants Threatens Lake Mattamuskeet

Upcoming Conferences

• Colorado Lake & Reservoir Management Association Spring Conference
• Michigan Lakes & Streams Association 64th Annual Conference
• New York State Federation of Lake Associations Annual Conference
• 2025 Aquatic Weed Harvesting Seminar
• New Hampshire Lakes Lakes Congress

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