Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Southern naiad

Southern naiad is taking over my pond. It started4 years ago in one little spot and is now covering everything 4 feet and shallower. We had some storms role through this week and now it is covering large sections of the deeper spots. It looks like its thick mats that have uprooted from the wind.

I need help with this. I have never had to treat a pond for something like this. And really don't know where to start.

Post a close-up plant-photo (held in your hand); mainly to verify the plant's ID in case there are any discrepancies before running through the management options.
Secondly, describe the pond's specifics; i.e. size, avg-depth, water-source(s), water-uses (all)?, fish present?, static or transitioning water (degree & frequency)?, % of weed-coverage, are any other desirable plant species present?, etc.
These steps are THE starting point.

kelly
take a look at these videos and let me know what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtOsoFmcvQ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X33wqBb3Wc

Awesome video...can't get enough of fish feeding action.

Kelly will guide you expertly with herbicide options to help address vegetation management. All I can suggest here is to consider some biological assistance via GC. Guessing you'd need to stock some advanced fish due to resident LMB population - but I'm sure plenty of you LMB guys have supplementally stocked GC with success. Thinking an immediate chemical treatment to knock back some naiad now might be helpful, in addition to GC stocking for long term, organic help.

Yep, you've got southern naiad (aka "bushy pondweed" in TX) and watershield.
What about the specifics concerning your pond's design, dynamics and water uses?

This pond is 4-1/2 acres. It holds roughly 27 acre feet of water. The only use is for fishing. It stays close to full this time of year. But the past few years it has dropped four foot during the winter.dropping thi size to about 3 acres. All the land draining into it I is managed pecan orchards. There is little to no water going out the spillway currently. And the forecast says we aren't going to get any rain for the next 7-10 days. 30" of visibility now and it will probably stay that way with this much naiad filtering the water. If you need any other specifics just let me know.
Thanks

Just noticed you work for Helena. I use our local branch. My rep is Morris Henry. Great service, he always bends over backwards to get me what I need when I am in a rush.

Here is an aerial picture of the pond.

A 6' avg-depth is relatively substantial, so I'll assume that you must have some fairly deep water in the pond's interior - 15'+?

Depending on the pond's design, always consider that the shallow littoral zone has a significant effect on the overall avg depth.
Review this simplified depth-illustration and the associated calculations, and let me know if you still think your pond has a 6' avg depth.


Any idea of your pond's pH-range (early AM thru late afternoon)?
Also, are there any desirable plant species that you want to specifically preserve?

Good to hear about your local rep. I don't know him personally as he's probably in the Ag-side of the company, but great to know that he's on top of his game.

Yes I think that 6 ft is about right there is a rapid drop off from shore. And the shallow part is consistently 4'.

I do not know the ph, but I will test Monday.

There are no plants that I feei have to stay. I can always replant.