Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants Wild Rice around lake

I have a 16 acre lake and a representative from Duck's Unlimited has told me that I should introduce wild rice to my lake's littoral zones in Southwestern Ontario. What's your thoughts on this.....he tells me the fish will hide in it as YOY and the waterfowl will love it. Thanks

Rowly

Do it...might be a good idea to mix in some smartweed and jap millet which may volunteer in subsequent years

FIRSTLY. Can we have some input from pond owners on what is the deepest water wild rice will grow?.

Wild rice - it's an annual & will spread by reseeding. My experience is that new season plants (before emergence) are eaten by ducks and geese and high densities of waterfowl can limit or eliminate next years crop. None came up for me last year due to geese and another pondowner had his large patch almost wiped out by grazing geese. Perpetuation or spread will depend somewhat on how big the rice patch is going into the second or third spring and if the waterfowl find it before it emerges.

Bill and DuchntVA:

Thanks for your thoughts. I will try it and see how this annual will grow year after year with my new introduction of domentic ducklings sometime in early July to the lake (Question and Observation section). Bill, what height will wild rice grow and will this be a good nursery plant for YOY fish? Again, what depth will the wild rice spread into the water? If it will spread into 2' water I will add in front of my riprap rock that I will be adding shortly along part of the lake. Thanks for the great talk.

Rowly

Rowly - Not sure how deep it will growwhich is why I asked the depth/growth question. You should ask this question where you get your wild rice. I've heard that it completely covered Sunduskay Bay of Lk Erie back when the Indians controlled Ohio and N.America. I assume based on today water levels that this depth was 4' to 6' but not sure about this. Mine grows about a foot deep so far. I will experiment with deeper plantings this summer.

How do you plan to get your w.rice started?

Bill, not sure...ducks unlimited is supposed to give some guidance and suggestions as we move forward. Just now looking for a supplier, I'm told it may be tricky in my sand and gravel mostly lake?

Rowly

I received my plants from WI (USA) today. The deepest growing plants from last year are in 18" - 22" of water. Mature wild rice plants are 4' to 7' tall. Total height seems to depend on substrate with tallest plants in soft sediments.

Bill, thanks for the info., I didn't realize that wild rice would grow that tall.......

Rowly