Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Balance of plants in the environment Rushes, Good? or Bad?

Hi all,
My 1/3 acre pond has rushes growing at various places. In some places they are very dense. I've seen nothing that says they are bad but I thought I'd find out from the folks that know. They are very needle like and about 24-30 inches tall. very bright green.
thanks
sully

If they stay near the shoreline and stabilize the shallow water from tearing up the bank from wave action, I would think they would be fine. At least they are not as tall as cattails.

I eliminated my cattails as they were taking over my pond out to about 6 feet of water, and they made it hard to fish over when they line the shoreline. I have them taking over where I once had cattails, and I hope they line the pond.

The plants indicate you have poorly drained ground there, left to its own devices it may be in the process of causing peaty acid conditions to build up. No big problem, its a niche habitat for quite specialised acid loving species and good cover for a number of animals, birds, amphibians and insects which add to the diversity of the pond.

If the pond appears to be infilling with a gradual smothering build up of peaty habitat you may have a chore there to dredge some areas out to increase areas which encourage fish fry habitat, and to consolidate other areas by adding drainage, or leave the pond to a steady decline

A bog area can be thought of as a 'lung' which filters water traveling to a lake, its a living thing which left to its own devices needs the occasional pruning to keep it from dominating a freshwater lake. You may want to survey the zones that the bog plants dominate, to arrive at a calculation rate at which it is expanding to determine what sort of management resources it might require, long term

Regards, andy

Thanks guys,
Actually the soil is far from poorly drained. It's very sandy and has little springs popping up in places. the rushes tend to stay at the headwater, and the foot near the dam. they don't seem to hurt anything, but I was just wondering. Yeah the frogs love em, and there doesn't appear to be any build up. I'll mow them if they start marching up the hill.

Thanks Again

Tim

There are numerous species of bulrushes, sedges, and rushes or soft rushes. Many different heights based on species. The largest (tallest 3.5' -4') ones grow in about 3 feet of water max.; smaller forms only grow in 6" to a foot of water. Three main genera are Scirpus, Juncus, Eleocharis and several less common genera.