Nuisance Aquatic Plant Management
If good fishing is your goal, the plants in your pond should be managed, not eradicated.
Our fisheries biologists help pond owners identify problem plants and choose a control method when necessary. In some cases, they may decide there really isn't a problem and recommend leaving the plants as they are. A moderate amount of water plants is actually good for a pond or lake; only when they are growing rampantly should they be controlled.
The purpose of this section is to help pond and lake owners solve their own water plant problems, using the same approach our biologists use. It will help you evaluate your pond or lake, identify the most common nuisance water plants in Missouri, and become familiar with aquatic-plant-control methods.
We also greater tolerance for aquatic plants. Most types of water plants never cause problems in ponds and lakes, and even nuisance species do not always grow excessively. In moderate numbers, water plants contribute greatly to a healthy aquatic environment. They deserve a place in every pond.
