Como Lake Aquatic Plant Management
Following efforts by CRWD and its partners, the native aquatic plant community in Como Lake is beginning to return following the dominance of an invasive aquatic plant called curly-leaf pondweed. Before control efforts began in 2020, curly-leaf pondweed had come to dominate 90% of the plant community in Como Lake. The population was greatly reduced after herbicide treatments in 2020 and 2021. However, the curly-leaf pondweed population rebounded in the lake in 2023, signaling the need for management in 2024.
Today, Thursday, March 21, the herbicide Fluridone was applied to Como Lake to target curly-leaf pondweed. Fluridone stops plants from making chlorophyll, so they are unable to photosynthesize.
Fluridone only affects plants that are already growing at the time of treatment, so the critically important native aquatic plants that start their growing season in late May will not be impacted. At low concentrations, fluridone has no contact restrictions and is safe for humans, pets, or wildlife. The water does not need to be avoided during treatment.
Learn more about Como Lake’s aquatic plants in the link below.
Above photo: Curly-leaf pondweed growing in Como Lake on March 11, 2024.
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