Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Cattle, runoff, ponds and weeds/FA

Hello to All,

I was using my 3gal pump-up sprayer to hit a bunch of white lilies w some Polaris and was walking a shoreline. There were a lot of brown stagnant looking algae.

the spillway was designed to be a bit higher to allow more water in pond bc we get real dry 10 of 12 mo's. In some areas, the pond water is over the normal shorelines...this is where the majority of the algae is located.

I am sure w 2-3 wks of intense sun, no rain and higher temps, the water will be in it's banks and lower. Also, I've read nutrients feed algae. I have 45 head of cattle and I am sure their by-products are included in the watershed runoff. Furthermore, last Oct I was about to shred a lot of the taller growth around the pond and the entry, but tons of rain have prevented getting in there [I fence off all my ponds from the cattle bc they will destroy it]. So, these taller grasses are decaying along the shorelines.

Is there anything I need to do now to prevent algae from spreading? It's also in the entry way too. I can take some pics's early next week when I go out again if that will help.

Thank you very much, rain.

I will let others with better advice help you with the current problem. But a sediment pond installed ahead and flowing into the main pond can sure help with some runoff problems.

You won't be able to prevent algae growth. That's a natural response to perfect environmental conditions. The good news is that it will primarily grow on the flooded terrestrial plants. More good news is that, as water temperature changes, algae will ebb and flow. Unless it inhibits enjoyment of the pond, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I bet it will go away by mid-May where you live.

Got a god crop of American Pondweed this year and am hoping that that might help keep the blue green algae at bay...... last year the blue green was so bad that the pond stank

Thanks guys - I live in W Houston, but the place/acreage is located 10 miles east of Columbus and 10 miles N of 1-10

The water clarity seems real nice in the pond - the scum is mostly located on-shore and just off-shore..I'm sure to the decaying N2 the grasses are providing...

here's a pic from the entry way - you cannot see it, but the pond curves to around to the right [opposite spill-way to the left]-rain