Alright, I know this topic is covered pretty thoroughly on here and I've been able to learn a great deal reading old posts and such. But, I'm unclear about something.
My situation in my two ponds is that instead of about 20% of the bank covered, I'm sitting close to 75% on one and 50% on the other. My goal is to regain control and try to do proactive maintenance once I have a select few stands of them in areas I want. Obviously I'm in for some work each year to control them but I do like small stands and like the cover they provide not just for fish but my birds.
Funds are limited and so is space to get a excavator around the entire pond so as much as I don't want to, I will be spraying them. This is where I start to probably over think this.
OK, let's say I spray these things, get them killed off. Now I have dead vegetation around alot of my pond. I could burn the stuff above the water off or resort to alot of manual labor removing it with a rake or by hand. Thats fine, I'm up for the challenge.
Now, what about all the stubble under the water? Anyone know how long it would take for that stuff to break down and disappear? Or, am I gonna be pulling it up by hand or spending the money on an excavator bill anyway? The goal is to provide that area back to my fish. From what I'm learning, the guy that built the pond made a shelf around 3ft wide around the pond in about 2ft of water. Good intentions but the cattails sure love it.
Thanks again for everyone's help and input. You guys are great.
