The north end of our lake just got invaded by a fast growing species of lily pad. Our lake is considered a closed system. That is there is no streams or rivers flowing into it. It�s fed by natural springs and city storm drains.
How would lily pads get introduced into a closed system like ours and what�s the most likely way they got introduced?
Could birds be the carrier?
What about fish stocking. Could a supplier have had lily pad seeds mixed in with water used to transport the fish that were stocked in our lake?
What about animals like beaver or nutria. Could they have eaten seeds from a river or pond nearby and redistribute them in our lake?
How would I identity the species of lily pad?
What is the best way to control them without hurting our other aquatic vegetation?
