Lakes: Chemical vsBiological treatment

[_RaT_]

I am hoping someone here has some experience regarding controling weeds, algae etc in lakes. I live where we have 5 lakes that at various times need treatemnt for various plant life. To treat them chemically anymore requires a permit, expensive chemicals and gets very costly. Do you know of biological controls that eliminate these issues? We plan to aerate one lake as an experiment. Any experience with aerators, brands? I can spend about $4000 on aeration equipment. The lake that would get it is about 5 acres and about 6' to 10' deep. Thanks, Mark

 

[CharlieTR]

I just got my Texas Private applicators license.
It was a real peice of cake to get.
There was a section on hydro, but they mostly said to follow the rules same as other herbicides. 1. Identfy plants/pests. 2. Research all options for chem, bio, etc. (just like you are doing now). 3. Select best combination and make action plan. The labal is the law (literally), so once you find a chem that is good for water plants, just follow label.

I would encourage anyone with land to get a private license, without mine I would have to buy 80 gallons of 2-4-D (if someone would sell that much) to get the same affect as 2 quarts of 2-4-D consentrate (the stuff required by permit).

Also, in Texas a licensed person can supervise without being present. Not for money, but law specifically states to help a friend or in exchange for barter. So if some nearby has one they can buy it, review safety, and give you their number incase of a big spill. Maybe same in Cal.

 

[bamatoolmaker]

My mother in law has a catfish pond in south Alabama.After a fishkill she consulted Auburn University.They suggested broadcasting salt around the perimeter of her pond.Not only does it fill algae it kills all weeds that come in contact with the water.The fish now are thriving and they are not slimey.

 

[BTDT]

My mother in law has a catfish pond in south Alabama.After a fishkill she consulted Auburn University.They suggested broadcasting salt around the perimeter of her pond.Not only does it fill algae it kills all weeds that come in contact with the water.The fish now are thriving and they are not slimey.

When you fry them, all you have to add is pepper.

 

[MarkV]

Hi Mark,
If you haven’t already you should do some looking a www.pondboss.com for some ideas. I know what you mean about the treatments getting expensive. We looked into treating our pond for fish habitat and the estimates ran in the thousands. Sterile grass carp are a popular way to deal with vegetation without using herbicides.

MarkV

 

[czechsonofagun]

My mother in law has a catfish pond in south Alabama.After a fishkill she consulted Auburn University.They suggested broadcasting salt around the perimeter of her pond.Not only does it fill algae it kills all weeds that come in contact with the water.The fish now are thriving and they are not slimey.

Very interesting. Just a regular kitchen salt on the banks of the pond?

 

[ToadHill]

The third year after I put in my second pond the alge was so thick you couldn't get a fish line in the water. I bought a few Isralie Grass Carp from a fish hatchery and put them in the pond. That was about 5 years ago. Within a couple of months the alge was gone and I've only had a tiny bit of it since in very warm weather. I cought one of the carp last summer while fishing and it weighed in at 28 lbs.
Check with your state regulator, in some states you have to apply for a permit for the carp.

 

[bamatoolmaker]

Very interesting. Just a regular kitchen salt on the banks of the pond?

No it is not table salt.I can not remember the proper name other than rock salt.It is sold at feed stores in 50 lb. bags.

 

[bamatoolmaker]

I use salt for killing Honeysuckle and Blackberries in fence rows.

 

[kossetx]

Finding organic info on ponds is difficult at best. I don't have much of a weed problem in my ponds so I haven't tried this but I've read that using corn glueten meal will control alge in ponds much as it controls pre emergent weeds in turf. I'm going to fertalize mine this year with corn meal and see how it does.

These days I avoid most poisons such as 2-4d. Agent Orange hurt lots of folks in vietnam and I have a lasting pain in my right eye that I feel is related to using 2-4d. I have to use chemicals sometimes but not as much as I used to.

Try dirtdoctor,com for more info. Good luck, MP