| Login |
| Don't have an account yet? You can create one. As a registered user you have some advantages like theme manager, comments configuration and post comments with your name. |
|
 |
| PHOTOS |
|
|
|
|
|
Aquatic Plants and Nutrients
Posted on Saturday, February 16 @ 11:13:06 CST by chapter54 |
|
 johnunderhill writes "For 40
years I have taken a deep interest in aquatic plants and their value to
both shallow waterfowl lakes and deep fishing lakes. Let’s start with the big
picture. Lakes that have mostly green water all summer have evidence of
an over load of nutrients. The purpose of aquatic plants is absorb
these nutrients. The overload may be from several sources. It may be from
bleed out from lake shore homes, owners are unaware
of. it may be from ditches entering the lake. Before ditching,
natural water ways entering a lake flowed through a marsh that combed out the
silt (every particle of silt contains nutrients) and absorbed some nutrients.
Finding bleed out and restoring a marsh filter (money coming from dedicated
funding bill, if it passes, has 1/3 money to clean up our lakes) can
reduce nutrients. The fecal matter from a high population of rough fish adds
nutrients. Big pike and Muskies that are eating machines can reduce numbers of
rough fish. Adding to the problem is removal of shoreline aquatic plants (the
natural weed line) that have been replaced with rock rip rap and sand hauled
in. This reduces the number of both submergent and emergent aquatic plants to
absorb unwanted nutrients.
Excessive
nutrients create an environment for algae. Algae feed on these nutrients, and
consume oxygen. The lake becomes dead. the fish bite slows. Combined with
summer heat, and stress, summer fish kills of game fish can happen. At the same
time algae s***** blocks penetration of sunlight on any remaining aquatic plants
that produce oxygen. Slime weed replaces submergent plants and coats bottom
structure, rocks, wood, dead plants etc. also fish lures.
A too
aggressive approach by cutting etc. of evasive early blooming plants like curly
leaf pondweed that absorbs nutrients and then releases them back in the water
when they die off, can also destroy the good late blooming plants that could of
absorbed these released nutrients. Also we know cutting spreads curly leaf pondweed.
We must work with the DNR and what ever move is made we must keep in mind
the big picture and do everything to reduce unwanted nutrients a step at
a time and work toward sun light penetration. This will restore the Chara, a
submergent green carpet plant with a massive root structure that holds bottom
soils down when the wind churns up the water, putting nutrients back into
suspension. Chara creates a home for Daphnia, a animal plankton,
known to be present where ever there is clear water. Carp root up
and destroy chara and plankton in a lake. Carp barriers at the outlet
should be looked into, especially where there is a
fishing organization or lake shore association to help maintain them.
This will remove the environment for algae to prosper in.
To destroy
aquatic vegetation is to have a dead lake with poor fishing. It is to have
algae s***** and slime weed to pull your kids around on a tube in and expose
them to ear infections etc. Let’s keep in mind the value and habitat aquatic
plants provide. They release oxygen for fish life. They provide ambush sites
for all predator fish. Bass, pike musky etc. They provide shade, cover and
spawning sites for all fish. In the heat of summer they release oxygen for
stressed out fish that lay in the shallow weeds. They clean up the very
water and create a healthy lake for us to enjoy.
Ray Hangge, Director
Southern
Crossroads Chapter 54, Muskies Inc.
"
|
|
|
| |
| Related Links |
|
|
|
|
| Article Rating |
|
|
|
|
| Options |
|
|
|
|
|
| Sorry, Comments are not available for this article. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
