Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Reward's Diquat - Toxic & Hazardous?

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and would truly appreciate your thoughts on Reward Diquat.

I live on a man made lake approximately 61,415 sq, yards, that is managed by the Energy Company and handles runoff.

Last week two people in a boat showed un in Hazmat Suits and sprayed the lake to control the weeds, and since that time all of the ducks and various water birds have disappeared!

This has concerned me, because before they did this the lake and my shoreline was full of waterfowl like Teal, Mallards, American wigeon, Pelicans, Ruddy Ducks and more.

Within 2 days and bout 5 days later there are only a couple of ducks and geese on the lake. A lake that was full of and vibrant with life only 5 day ago, looks like a dead body of water. I have lived here for 3 years and this is the first time they have done this and the first time our beautiful little man made lake looks like a dead lake that is devoid of waterfowl.

Being concerned I called the energy company that sprayed the lake and asked what they used, and they told me Diquat made by Reward

So I have a few questions, that I would like your toughts on, since you own your own ponds and most likely deal with aquatic week control.

Does Reward; Diquat harm wildlife?
Why are all of the waterfowl gone?
Is Diquat harmful to waterfowl?
Will this lake recover or have they killed it?
Is Diquat Harmful to humans? I live not more than 25 yards from the lake!

I am really upset I love our little lake and all of the wildlife it offers and the beauty it adds to my area. I also pay a big premium to live here in High Taxes and the cost of our home, and now I live on a dead lake!

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and looking forward to hearing your thoughts, since you guys are in the know!

Cheers to all and have a great evening.

Here is a link to the diquat herbicide product label:

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Treating ponds is one of the recommended uses.

It is safe for humans for swimming and fishing, shortly following treatment. However, it is NOT safe for drinking water for livestock (for 1 day) or humans (for 3 days).

All of the warnings on the labels of herbicides only apply if the product was applied exactly as recommended. However, in your case, it sounds like it was probably applied by professionals.

I am not an aquatic herbicide expert. However, I suspect the waterfowl moved off due to the water smelling/tasting off to the birds, or some of them were eating the new growth on the aquatic plants and have now moved over to other ponds with tastier meals that are easier to reach.

I hope your waterfowl will start moving back into your pond in a few weeks. I suspect diquat was chosen to kill off a few specific, undesirable weeds. There is a chance that was the favorite duck food, but there is also a chance that it was some plant competing with what the waterfowl prefer, and those plants may do better this fall.

There are some actual pond treatment experts on the forum. They have experience treating ponds and then following up on the results after subsequent visits. Hopefully, one of them will drop into your thread and let you know what you might expect in your situation.

Thank you FishinRod, I appreciate your reply and insight, looking forward to hearing from some experts/

IMO the diquat did what it is supposed to do; kill numerous species of submerged vegetation. Diquat acts quickly to kill vegetation and biodegrades quicker than the plants that usually die within 5-10 days if it was used properly according to label instructions. IMO it is one of the safer quickly acting herbicides. Quick acting - quick chemical breakdown. IMO the waterfowl left because the food buffet was dying and died back thus the food buffet for wildlife closed - customers left for better feeding areas. Diquat often just kills the tops of the plants and it is not transpired to the roots. Those plants with roots will IMO gradually begin to return as will the waterfowl.

Thank you for your insight Bill. I miss the birds, they enhance the esthetic value of my view and really make everything beautiful!

A few picture of my friends, all gone now!

Beautiful variety of waterfowl!
I suspect they'll all return indue time.

I should have also added that all of the House Finch's that are always around my back yard have all disappeared and I found this little hen on my patio this morning.

I wounder if they really used Diquat, bother people in the boat were wearing serious hazmat suits. Do you wear a hazmat suit while applying Diquat?

I hope so, I can post many more pictures of different birds. I has seen as many as 300+ geese in our little lake during the migration.

A couple more Cinnamon Teal which are rare in our neck of the woods and a Shoveler, and a Merganser, It's beautiful!

Beautiful! I grew up duck hunting. Always was fascinated with how gorgeous waterfowl are. Even their individual feathers can be beautiful. I'm envious!

I grew up with a dedicated Duck Hunter Father, so I understand where you are coming from.

When is the last time you have seen a Cinnamon Teal?

After living here and watching them raise their young, I will never shoot another duck again, but deer, moose and elk are still on the menu lol

I have never seen a cinnamon teal. Bluewiing and Greenwing only. I did happen to shoot the only Surf scooter ever recorded in our county. Beings how I live in KS it was a little off it's normal migration path. We don't hunt the pond below the house, it is a refuge for waterfowl because we like to watch them so much. Deer certainly are on the menu though. Never had a chance to hunt elk or moose. I've heard both are awesome to hunt and great table fair!

I hear you catsratch, congrats on the Surf Scooter, very surprising hey?

I hear you about the refuge aspect, so wonderful to have hear are more picts I took, including a Blue Winged Teal. Wish I had a better camera!

I am really pissed over this carpet bombing event!

Since the workers were "pros" they might be required by the Company to use hazmat suits whenever any type of herbicides are used? I normally just use appropriate gloves and common sense when dealing with diquat. Diquat IMO should not kill birds. Do you see any amphibians or tadpoles dead?

Hi Bill,

We do not have any amphibians here, never have seen a frog or salamander in the three years that I have lived here.

The minnows seem to be doing ok and I have not seen any dead fish on our shoreline. The muskrat I have seen daily all spring and summer is gone as well.

Thank you for your insight!

Great waterfowl pics!

I have seen a cinnamon teal in Kansas. Of course, we had to look it up in a bird book afterwards!

However, I am surprised there is no commentary about the rarest bird of all in your pictures.

Your 4th picture clearly captured a saxophone-playing rooster! I have never seen one of those in the wild, OR in a zoo.

lol, may wife has rooster figurines all over the house.