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    Texas Pond Management and Pond Weed Control

    Introduction

    There are more than 7,000 lakes in the great state of Texas and more than a million ponds and stock tanks. With all that water comes weeds and algae. Managing the growth in ponds, tanks, and lakes is important, especially when there are invasive species present.

    This article will list some invasive aquatic plants, which grow much more rapidly than native aquatic plants. Invasives can crowd out native species and even overtake an entire body of water. This can disrupt the whole food chain, from insects to fish and waterfowl as well as cattle or other animals that use the water, too.

    Identifying the target weeds is the first step, then finding the best way to control them is next. Some helpful resources will be noted with explanations of who they are plus links to their websites.

    When you first discover an aquatic invasive species (AIS), it should be reported. There are a few organizations that it can be reported to, and they are laid out below.

    Native vs. Invasive Plants

    Non-native plants were not originally found in the area; native plants have been there for hundreds or even thousands of years and have adapted to the unique growing conditions of the area they are in. Non-native species can be transplanted from other areas of the country that they may be native to, or they may come from other countries.

    Oftentimes, non-native species end up in Texas waters from the aquarium industry, like when someone dumps their aquarium into another body of water. The plants that look great in that small aquarium setting and are easy to control in such a small tank (comparatively) now can take root and grow uncontrolled in the vast pond or lake they’ve been introduced to.

    A species is considered invasive if it is significantly detrimental to the environment, the economy, or human health. This happens when a species outcompetes native plants, causing problems throughout the entire food chain, from microorganisms to algae to plants and animals. Not all non-native species are invasive. It is important to know if non-native species are present in your area so steps can be taken to be sure they don’t become invasive.

    Texas Invasive Aquatic Plants

    Aquatic plants are segmented into three main categories: emergent, floating, and submerged. Emergent plants are rooted in the sediment and usually have leaves and/or stems that come up out of the water. There are a few plants considered emergent that have leaves that float on the water, like water lilies.

    Floating plants are not in fact rooted to the bottom but float on top of the water or within the water column. They can have modified leaves that act as roots to hang on to the sediment. Submerged plants are rooted to the bottom and typically stay under the surface of the water. However, there are some types of pondweeds that have submerged leaves as well as floating leaves that look different.

    Below is a list of invasive aquatic plant species in Texas.

    Emergent

    • Alligator weed
    • Anchored water hyacinth
    • Giant reed
    • Phragmites
    • Purple loosestrife
    • Water spinach
    • Torpedo grass

    Floating

    • Common water hyacinth
    • European water chestnut
    • Giant Salvinia
    • Water lettuce
    • Salvinia minima

    Submerged

    • Egeria
    • Curly leaf pondweed
    • Eurasian watermilfoil
    • Hydrilla
    • Parrot feather

    Identify and Control Invasive Aquatic Plants in Texas

    Identifying the growth in your pond is the first step to gaining control of it. Each type of vegetation is controlled differently, and there are multiple herbicides to choose from within each category. Knowing which types of weeds are growing, and if they are native or not, helps to narrow down what to use to control them.

    One of the best ways to identify the weeds growing in a pond is to take pictures: a photo of the area where the plants are growing plus a few close-ups of each type of plant. It’s best to take one of each weed out of the water and place it on a solid background. This way, the leaf structure and how leaves are attached to the stems can be easily seen.

    Once photos have been taken, the photos can be put into the reverse image search on Lake Restoration’s Aquatic Plant ID page. A list will populate of probable matches, along with percentages of how likely the listed plants match what’s in the photos.

    From there, you can click on a plant to see more pictures and a detailed description for comparison to confirm what you have growing. There is also a link to see control options for each plant.

    Some factors, in addition to target species, that play a role in deciding how to control aquatic weeds include the size of the water body, treatment area, cost, goals (kill everything, just certain areas, etc.), application method for products, other species present and if you want to control them as well or not. Algae control should also always be a part of a management plan.

    Reputable TX Resources

    • Lake Restoration Aquatic Plant ID and Weed Control pages
      • Control pages give multiple options so you can choose what will work best for you personally
    • Lake Restoration staff: email photos to Plants@LakeRestoration.com or call 1-877-428-8898 to discuss your specific situation
    • Texas A&M Agrilife Extension: the university’s extension office; they have science-based resources. This is a great resource because they are a state agency and thus are objective. They are not here to sell products; they can advise on active ingredients or other methods.
      • AquaPlant: TAMU’s website similar to our Aquatic Plant ID and Weed Control pages that have descriptions of plants and how to control them. There are also other resources like fish stocking information, aquatic vegetation fact sheets, and webinar opportunities.
      • The fisheries website is also good, as it contains aquaculture and fisheries information.
    • Texas Parks & Wildlife: A government site for all things outdoors Texas. Hunting, fishing, boating, state parks, wildlife, and so much more information. There are blogs, articles, apps, and more for everyone from beginners to experienced outdoorsmen.
      • The Texas AIS list linked here is for the Prohibited/Controlled Exotic Species. There are multiple lists, including aquatic plants. Under each aquatic plant is one to two more links that go to the Texas A&M AquaPlant site of plant descriptions or TexasInvasives.org descriptions of each plant.

    Conclusion

    Some differences between native and invasive plants were given, and a list of aquatic invasives has been broken down into the three main categories of aquatic plants: emergent, floating, and submerged weeds. Identifying target species is the first step that should be taken, then finding the best way to control the plants is next. Use the resources listed above to help with weed identification, control options, reporting AIS, and to help make a personalized treatment plan.