Originally Posted By: Bruce Condello
Somewhat of a summary.

Low water + low inorganic sediment inflow (drought) = increased sunlight penetration to bottom substrate.

Increased sunlight penetration to substrate means ideal conditions for submergent vegetation.

Significant growth of agressive submergent vegetation means decreased available nutrients available for single celled algae.

Decreased amount of single celled algae means increased clarity.

Increased clarity means perpetuation of the rooted vegetation (the vicious cycle completed)

An entire pond of sago pondweed = mad landowners.

OK, so when the drought ended the next spring, why didn't the sago re-emerge?


I have to be missing something because I thought we had hit on that, but my thoughts are:

* Sago was "killed" off during cold winter
* Water levels increased prior to start of real sago growth
* Depth change impacted light penetration
* Surface runoff - including water, sediment, and lawn care products - "muddied" the water with a sort of nutrient soup
* These things all occurred at a time prior to the growth cycle for sago began
* algae was able to bloom in advance of the sago
* bloom eliminated clear water issue
* alage wasn't robbed of all its nutrients by sago and was able to maintain the bloom, blocking light for sago growth

Todd La Neve

[Linked Image from i108.photobucket.com]
Click Here to Subscribe to Pond Boss Magazine

1.5 & .5 ac ponds - LMB, BG, RES, YP, GC, HSB