Lake Shore Management – The Essentials

One common problem among all lake shore owners is that of weed management. Not only can the aquatic weeds clog up and potentially damage a boat’s motor, but quite frequently they are an unpleasant sight and a nuisance in any swimming area. Additionally, the build-up of algae can lead to a foul smelling environment and render a swimming area unusable. Some lake weeds can even create very dense mats on the surface that boating through them becomes impossible.

Common Problems

A few common species of invasive submerged weeds that have become a nuisance all across North America include curly leaf pondweed, Hydrilla, and Eurasian watermilfoil. These plants are capable of rapidly taking over entire lakes and choking out other native species necessary for a lake’s health.

Lake weeds that grow above the water (emergent) include cattails, water lily, and bulrush. Cattails and bulrush may prevent access to the water because of their ability to grow in dense stands along the shore of a lake.

One particularly detrimental problem caused by such weeds is that they create poor spawning conditions for native fish, leading to a weakened and suboptimal fishing experience within the lake. It is very important to be aware of such invasive species of weeds and if one makes an appearance you need to take appropriate measures to preserve the health of your lake. Removing all plant matter from boats and trailers before leaving a lake is a key step to stop the spread of invasive species.

Invasive weed species need to be taken seriously and therefore weed management and awareness is a necessity for all lake users. Many lake weeds are capable of seriously inhibiting recreational lake activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming. The most important thing that boaters must do to prevent the spread of these plants is to always remember to drain their boat’s live well and to check to make sure that their boat is not carrying any weeds from one lake to another.

How to Manage Lake Weeds

For lake shore owners, there are a couple of solutions to the problem of managing lake weeds:

• Professional Service: If you are part of a lake association, you can contact them to find out if your lake is being treated by professional herbicide applicators. If not, it may be a good idea to recommend to your association that they find a professional service to do so.
• Do-it-Yourself Herbicides: Lake shore owners with a do-it-yourself attitude can obtain aquatic herbicides and may use them as directed on the packaging. Check with your local department of natural resources to find out if permits are needed for the purchase or application of aquatic herbicides.
  • The most effective weed killers for a lake shore need to be applied after lake weeds are already growing. Depending upon the lake herbicide, there will need to be between one and six hours of contact time between the herbicides and the plants. Because of this necessary contact time, it is best to apply lake herbicides in the morning or evening on a day with projected low winds for optimal control.
  • Lake shore aquatic herbicides are safe and break down quickly after controlling the lake weeds. Typically, each treatment will lake weeds from interfering with lake use for about five weeks. Additional treatments should be timed about five weeks apart to make sure control and removal efforts remain successful.
• Mechanical Removal: Lake shore owners that are hesitant to use chemicals in their waters may find comfort in obtaining a mechanical weed removal tool. These can range from something as simple as a rake all the way up to diving and manually removing the weeds and feeding them into a vacuum that pulls them up to a boat or barge or large scale harvesting.

No matter which solution you choose to manage the weeds in your lake shore, you should take pride in the fact that with doing so you are preserving the overall health of your lake and its ability to serve as a source of many recreational activities.