Aquamog Midwest
The dedicated dredging site of
All Things Water
weed harvesting 
saving TODAY'S LAKES FOR tomorrow
The battle with aquatic vegetation has taken a major turn. As of 2011, aquatic chemicals, and natural supplements are considered as a source of pollution by EPA standards, thus requiring an extensive NPDS permit for chemical applications. While this will not bring an end to chemical applications, it does have a lot of consumers looking towards different alternatives. All Things Water is dedicated to providing our customers with an environmentally friendly solution. It is our goal that every person who looks at this page becomes better educated on Weed Harvesting, thus enabling them to make an educated decision on any future investments into their lakefront or private pond.
Currently the choice in temporary management is most often between mechanical harvesting and the use of aquatic chemicals. While the use of aquatic chemicals is convenient, it has the following drawbacks as compared to mechanical removal...
Aquatic chemicals kill plants without removing them from the water. The material sinks after dying. Its decay consumes oxygen and releases nutrients for new plant growth, as well as adding additional sediment to the lake
The poisoned plants disappear slowly from the treated area. Unlike harvesting, several weeks to a month may pass before the nuisance plants sink away, and many times additional treatments are required to get the desired results.
Chemical treatments are, many times, not selective. Each aquatic herbicide kills multiple kinds of plants, which means many beneficial plants can be killed, as well as the targeted species.
Chemicals drift beyond the point(s) of application. Even lakes that appear placid have currents making it impossible to confine herbicides to the targeted area of a lake. In lakes with significant currents, chemicals may be diluted before desired treatment effects occur. The only way that this is prevented is with barriers, which are cumbersome and expensive.
Treated areas can be closed to swimming, fishing, irrigation, and other uses for a few days or weeks depending on the chemicals used, thus having an impact on everyday life around the lake.
Currently the choice in temporary management is most often between mechanical harvesting and the use of aquatic chemicals. While the use of aquatic chemicals is convenient, it has the following drawbacks as compared to mechanical removal...
Aquatic chemicals kill plants without removing them from the water. The material sinks after dying. Its decay consumes oxygen and releases nutrients for new plant growth, as well as adding additional sediment to the lake
The poisoned plants disappear slowly from the treated area. Unlike harvesting, several weeks to a month may pass before the nuisance plants sink away, and many times additional treatments are required to get the desired results.
Chemical treatments are, many times, not selective. Each aquatic herbicide kills multiple kinds of plants, which means many beneficial plants can be killed, as well as the targeted species.
Chemicals drift beyond the point(s) of application. Even lakes that appear placid have currents making it impossible to confine herbicides to the targeted area of a lake. In lakes with significant currents, chemicals may be diluted before desired treatment effects occur. The only way that this is prevented is with barriers, which are cumbersome and expensive.
Treated areas can be closed to swimming, fishing, irrigation, and other uses for a few days or weeks depending on the chemicals used, thus having an impact on everyday life around the lake.
Now lets look at some of the advantages of Aquatic Weed Harvesting.
Harvesting at times of major growth can weaken the plants. Re-growth after harvest can be slower than normal. Harvesting is best done during spring or summer when it will result in the maximum amount of actively growing plant material removed and still allow full recreational use of the lake. Such timing depends on knowledge of the growth characteristics of the species in question and on experience with the lake's recreational pattern
Repeated harvesting in one year may give even greater reduction of re-growth in subsequent years. Most types of weeds need to be mowed two or three times per season, just like your yard. While this isn't as easy as spraying them with chemical and watching them die, it has no negative environmental impact on the lake. Which means that your kids and grand kids can enjoy the lake for years to come.
Equipment and methods can be selected to fit the type and size of the problem. Openings can be cut in weed beds, leaving a vegetated edge that is attractive to fish and beneficial plants can also be protected. Or complete removal of weed beds can be achieved in a short period of time.
Removal of the cut material eliminates accumulation of decaying plants. Thus helping eliminate additional sedimentation and it also helps prevent fish kills via depleted oxygen from decaying plants.
Nutrients will be removed with the harvested plant matter, rather than becoming available again in the lakebed or water. Removing the lake's store of nutrients, especially phosphorus, is a major benefit of weed harvesting.
Most types of plants can be removed including flowering plants and filamentous algae.
Unlike most chemicals, harvesting has no restrictions during or after harvest
Harvested plants make good garden mulch, soil conditioner and composting material, since the thin cell walls of aquatic plants break down rapidly. There are many options available for disposal of harvested material. Many farmers are starting to bring in aquatic vegetation from coastal states. These can be offered to them or homeowners on lake to use as compost, or gardening mulch. Harvested weeds can even be offered to landscaping centers. This eliminates the costs of disposing the harvested weeds at a landfill.
Rotovation
What is rotovation?
Rotovation is similar to rototilling your garden, in that the process separates the weed from the soil. The difference being that when you do the same in the water, the organic matter (weeds, tubers, root mass, seeds, etc…) floats to the surface, then it is collected by a harvester.
The Rotovator separates the vegetation from the hydro-soil and allows it to float up for collection with a harvester. Because the process removes nearly 100% of the vegetation, grow back is typically 10% or less, and long term control is established as a result (typically 18-36 months). This method of weed control works the best on milfoil, yet all types of weeds can be removed. Also this is the only way to remove cattail/lily pad tubers without removing the soil. This is a huge plus in terms of disposal, as contaminated sediment disposal is costly to the client.
In most heavily infested areas, the typical rotovation process will take one initial (heavy) rotovation, followed by about half that much time (or less) the next year, and then half again for year three. Essentially, you are removing the bulk of the emergent vegetation the first year (we recommend cutting first with a harvester, followed by the rotovation), and the following year, you are removing any remaining plants and or seeds that have germinated. The process, as noted might take 2-3 seasons, but then should give the client an additional 2-3 years of weed free water. We recommend that the client lightly rotovates each year, as a maintenance technique.
Contact All Things Water today for more information.
574-596-0829
574-596-0829
Hydro Raking is also Available 
