Vegetation is essential for a healthy aquatic habitat, but too much of the wrong kind of vegetation has adverse effects on that environment. In order to maintain the balance that enhances habitat quality, vegetation control programs should target nuisance plants and avoid harming desirable ones. Herbicides are safe solutions for selective removal of vegetation, as long as they’re applied correctly and regulations are followed. Aquatic Vegetation Even underwater plants produce oxygen during…
Floods are on the increase as a consequence of global warming but also because of poorly maintained waterways. Water damage to homes and businesses can be devastating as a result of flooding. However, there are solutions that minimize the risk of floods from rivers and waterways which are easy to implement and can set in place a maintenance program. Read on for just a few practical ideas on ways to avoid a…
The efficiency and capacity of irrigation ditches and systems; holding and settling ponds; stocked ponds and lakes; open tanks; streams, creeks and slow-moving or meandering rivers can be severely affected by aquatic vegetation and algae. In particular, non-native and/or invasive species, aquatic plants and algae can destroy a habitat, reduce holding and flow capacity, de-aerate water, raise water temperature, and affect water quality. Aquatic plants and algae can also destroy…
Many people work long hours just so they can live in a place with a pond, lake or another waterway nearby. Unfortunately, pests and invasive species enjoy waterways just as much as we do, and if you’re not careful, they can destroy your serene aqua environment. In some instances, chemical controls are the only effective way to rid a waterway of invasive species, and if you’re wondering whether chemical controls…
Balanced aquatic ecosystems have suffered from human activity throughout history, creating conditions that turn picturesque bodies of water into diseased lakes, ponds and rivers. Typically, the problem begins with the introduction of chemicals or plants foreign to the local ecosystem. Altering the floral or chemical profile of a body of water may spark a critical change, causing algae blooms or poisoning healthy plants that help maintain aquatic balance. Protecting bodies…