Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Help with weeds.....in Baghdad!

OK, my boss in the Army (Full Colonel) has asked for my help in solving a weed issue. Where I am stationed there are large lakes, interconnected by canals, that are probably well over 100 acres in size. In these lakes are weeds, which the Generals have determined are an eyesore and want us to hire locals with rakes to clean them out. Below are some pictures of these weeds.

with silver dollar for size comparison




I thought about tilapia or grass carp, but have no idea if they can even be obtained here. I thought about fish farming tilapia (its surely hot enough here for overwinter survival) which would not only be an environmentaly friendly way (no chemicals) but may also provide a lasting economical benefit to the people of Iraq. Has anyone heard of either species around the middle east? I'm scared of the grass carp for escape reasons and the sterile ones might be cost prohibitive, but I'm open to suggestions.

Here is a picture of the palace that is on the lake.


Thanks,
Shawn

Several species of tilapia are native to N. Africa (nile). I will check. Shawn we hope you are well and safe.

From SRAC

http://fineartforum.org/dept/srac/tilapia.htm

"Tilapia" is the generic name for a group of Cichlids endemic to Africa and the Middle East. Cichlids have a body shape similar to North American sunfishes which are often called "pan fish". Within this group three genera: Oreochromis, Sarotherodon, and Tilapia are aquaculturally important. Several characteristics distinguish these three genera but possibly the most critical relates to reproductive behavior. All Tilapia species are nest builders, with the fertilized eggs being guarded in the nest by a brood parent. Sarotherodon and Oreochromis genera are mouth brooders: eggs are fertilized in the nest but parents provide even greater protection by immediately picking up the eggs in their mouth and maintaining them through incubation and for several days after hatching.

The most positive aquacultural characteristics of tilapia are their tolerance to poor water quality and their ability to utilize a wide range of natural food organisms (i.e. omnivorous). The greatest biological constraints to the development of commercial tilapia farming are their inability to withstand sustained water temperature below 50°-53°F (10-12°C) and their early sexual maturity. This later results in overcrowding, stunting, and few that reach marketable size.
Still, tilapia are second only to carps as the most widely farmed freshwater fishes in the world. As of the late 1990’s world harvest of farm-raised tilapia had surpassed 880,000 English tons (800,000 metric tons). In the U.S. tilapia are farmed mostly in intensive recirculating tank systems or in cages (warm season only). Most U.S. states require special permits to possess and farm tilapia. (Text and photos courtesy Michael Masser, Texas A&M University).

Looks like the weed could possibly be Coontail. Can you get a close up photo of the leaves?

I will try to get a better close up of the leaves. It does remind me quite a bit of coontail. This lake is also our drinking water source (after much treatment), so I think that rules out chemical, and I really think mechanical is going to be out of the question.

Thanks for all the help, I do some more research.

Svoberts, it sure is good to hear from you! Please continue to stay safe over there!


Get the Colonel to get a direct flight transport authorized out of Scott Air Force Base and I'll get you some Nile Tilapia if you want them. I'd send you some Blue Tilapia, but they are considered and Israeli species and might not go over too well in Iraq!

OK, here is a close up of one of the weeds they were pulling out. The other weed was similar, but had a thicker leaf structure.



being a rooted plant, I think grass carp would probably do ok. What about Tilapia? I'm still nervous about introducing an invasive species, but we'll make that decision if we figure out if it is even a viable option. Thanks for the help!

This may be too late for consideration - but fluridone may still be a viable option. Potable water treated at rates less than 150 ppb (which is an excessively high dose for coontail) may be used without delay, providing that no treatments are literally applied (directly placed) within 1/4-mile of a "functioning" potable water intake. And, if applied at lower dosages (between 6 and 20 ppb), areas immediately adjacent to functioning potable water intakes may be treated. Overall, a single 60-70 ppb dose would probably be quite effective - or, a long-term sustained concentration of 25 ppb.
Have you already pursued a course of action?

Edit: The above applies to the US label. You would need to verify and adhere to local regs for Iraq - if any.

What is the water source? River?

milfoil? Possibly Eurasian Milfoil. Triploid Carp would most likely turn thier noses up at that and swim away hungry. A lot of questions besides what the plant is, what is available in your other side of the world area?

http://map.co.door.wi.us/swcd/invasive/Publications/Eurasian%20Milfoil%20Factsheet%20preview.pdf.jpg

Under the grass carp feeding preferences Myriophyllum spicatum is on the plants not preferred and sometimes not controlled. I had a complete pond infestation of that junk and considered triploids but they just don't like the stuff.

You want to help the people out? Start some fish farms. My fish would be the Nile Tilipia, Oreochromis niloticus. You have 100 acres of unused waterways, start building. Create jobs, food source and readily sold export. Invariably some will escape, hopefully they will knock down or limit the yet to be identified plant. Pretty tough to tell, as coontail normally is a lot bushier on the tops. Plus that infamous red stem has milfoil written all over it. Milfoil sends off floaters but is normally rooted. Some plants are very easy to identify, coontail/milfoil are tough to distinguish from photos on the internet. I always support the troops, 4 year US Navy vet during the cold war.