Pond Boss Forums PHOTO GALLERY Image Gallery new plant appears to be taking over

This plant is taking over my new shallow areas of the pond. It is growing in very dense mounds and is spreading quickly. What is it and should I be concerned or is it something that is only growing because my pond is so low right now.

Look familiar?

http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/alphabetical-index/elodea/

Double check that it is not Hydrilla. They look very similar. Hydrilla may not grow in MO???

http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/visual-index/hydrilla/

Elodea and Hydrilla are not good pond plants IMO. They grow too fast and are not good habitat for fish because they form dense mats and fish have a hard time swimming through the plants.

This is American Elodea that is about as wide as a dime, very small. I had a 9 foot dia. of it in the spring that has gotten smaller and has not spread around the pond. The only reason I can think of for it's shrinkage is I have 7 grass carp in a one acre pond.
[IMG]http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/jmonroe_2008/AmericanElodeapng.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks for the links and info guys. With my water being so low and not having aeration am I safe to say my only option for the time being is manual removal or try and find some grass carp.

I have some of this in my tilapia tank.