Aquatic Plants and Algae

IMPORTANCE OF AQUATIC PLANTS AND ALGAE

While aquatic plants and algae can sometimes interfere with pond uses, they also serve vital roles in supporting the fish and animal life that make up the pond ecosystem  To learn more, check out the resources below:

• Pond Ecology - this fact sheet describes the importance of plants to the pond or lake ecosystem 
• Watch a 3-minute video on the importance of aquatic plants (coming soon!)

AQUATIC PLANT IDENTIFICATION

Management and control of aquatic plants always begins with accurate identification of the plant.  Select a category below to see a list of common plants and to learn more about the plant or check out the video and links to other plant identification resources.

• Algae
• Submerged Plants
• Emergent Plants
• Floating Plants 
• Watch a 3-minute video on identification of common aquatic plants in Pennsylvania (coming soon!)
• Download a color publication with pictures of aquatic plants (Aquatic Plant Management and Control)
• Fact sheets are available for many common Pennsylvania plants - (List of Fact Sheets)
• Washington State Department of Ecology - Aquatic Plant ID site
• AQUAPLANT - Texas Cooperative Extension - Aquatic Plant ID site
• Center for Aquatic Plants - University of Florida

CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF AQUATIC PLANT AND ALGAE GROWTH

• Watch a 3-minute video on causes and prevention of plant growth in ponds (coming soon!)
• Water Quality in Ponds - fact sheet that describes water quality conditions that cause plant growth

CONTROLLING ABUNDANT AQUATIC PLANT GROWTH

• Watch a 3-minute video on getting to know your pond including measuring your pond before using an herbicide (coming soon!)
• Measuring pond area and volume (critical measurements needed before controlling plants)
• Watch a 2-minute video on mechanical control strategies to remove plants and algae (coming soon!)
• Watch a 3-minute video on biological control strategies to control plants (coming soon!)
• Barley straw fact sheet - how to use barley straw to control filamentous algae growth
• More barley straw information - in depth discussion of barley straw from Iowa
• Grass carp fact sheet and permit application
• Watch a 6-minute video on use of chemical herbicides to control aquatic plants (coming soon!)
• Commonly used aquatic herbicides in Pennsylvania
• Labels for common aquatic herbicides (from Universty of Florida)
• Label for Reward (most commonly used aquatic herbicide)
• Download Permit application to use an herbicide on your pond
• Professional pond consultants (list of companies that can remove aquatic plants and do other pond consulting work)
• Watch a video on how aquatic herbicides work (from Purdue University)