
Aquatic plants are a beneficial and necessary part of Missouri ponds and lakes. Without them, most other pond organisms cannot survive. Plants oxygenate the water, stabilize the shoreline and pond bottom, and provide food, cover, and nesting sites for fish. A diverse aquatic vegetation community occupies up to 30 to 40 percent of many healthy ponds. You should only consider control if vegetation is causing a problem for the fish population or fishing access.