Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants Plant ID: Weed or form of Algae

First time post so I apologize for any miscues. I live in a development and have been put in charge of "managing" 5 ponds. Being a novice at this I have been lurking on Pond Boss for a couple of years soaking up all the knowledge. I need some help on the identification of this plant/algae. It does not seem to root to the bottom but does grow from the bottom. I had thought it was Chara but now with looking at some recent posts it may be small pond weed. In the small shallow pond, deepest part 5 foot, it seems to take over most of the pond. It grows to the surface but never above it.
Ponds located just outside of Lincoln, NE and TJ has been immense help in my gathering of knowledge.

Thank you for any input.

Doug R.
No catchy signature at this time!!

It would help with the ID to isolate a single specimen of the plant and take a photo of it in the same manner that you used for the "unknown pond weed" image - and also use a higher resolution / larger image-pixel dimension if possible.
It is necessary to view minute structural characteristics to ID some plant species that don't have easily distinguishable features.

Doug...you could have just texted me and I would have stopped by on the way to the farm.

Kelly is our go to guy here, but here's my take on this plant based on knowledge I've managed to attain from Kelly and other experts.

Many species of similar looking pondweeds - but IMO that's definitely a pondweed cultivar, not a algae/chara. I'm guessing Sago, bushy, baby, horned or something similar. Can be organically controlled with crayfish and GC, or chemically treated with several solutions. I'm treating some very dense baby pondweed at my place around the feeder with Aquathol Super K granules per an expert's direction.

Welcome aboard Doug - former lurker!

Kelly,
I tried to separate a single sprout and get a decent focus on it. I will have to say that pond plant photography is not an area of expertise for me. With that said, it appears that there are three thin leaves around a single nodule. Thank you for your help.

TJ,
I just didn't want to bother you with the coaching and everything else going on this spring. I am interested in the crayfish as this may improve forage in the larger ponds. As I read on the forum there are several different types. Where did you get yours from?

Thank you for all your input
Doug

Doug,
Those distinct clustered seed pods with long points at the leaf-node are a major identifying factor. I'm fairly certain that it is horned pondweed, Zannichellia palustris.
It is actually endangered in Indiana, threatened in New Hampshire, and of special concern in Maine; all of which are regions of its natural range.
I've only encountered it once in Texas - very mysteriously - since it rarely occurs down here in God's country ;probably attributed to human traffic.

The master has spoken!

Thanks Kelly!!!

Thank you very much, but you have me confused. I don't know if I should kill it or feel privileged that it has found our ponds.
I guess since I am in Nebraska I will try and control it somewhat. It is my understanding that with pondweed when you attempt manual removal the broken stems cause more production of the weed. Although I am trying not to introduce many chemicals into the ponds the best control mechanism would appear to be some sort of aquatic herbicide. The association has some Sonar RTU that was purchased several years ago and reading the label it states it is effective on pondweed. Would anyone anyone recommend anything better other than organic control with crayfish per TJ.
Thank you for your input,
Doug

Doug - many factors to consider when determining an appropriate weed management plan; especially the ultimate goal(s), scope/scale/characteristics of the site, what uses the water serves, and the user-group's personal convictions.
PM your email address to me (if desired) and I'll email a questionnaire back to you that covers the list of variables that I generally require for assessing and recommending management options.