PLEASANT HOLLOW POND ALGAE CONTROL
Aquatic plants are a beneficial and necessary part of Missouri ponds and lakes. Without them, most other pond organisms cannot survive. Plants keep the water oxygenated, provide food, cover and nesting sites for fish, and stabilize the shoreline and pond bottom. In a healthy pond, 10 to 20 percent of the pond’s bottom and surface should have aquatic plants. If more than 20 percent of the pond has plants or if the vegetation is causing a problem, a control method should be considered.
WHAT ARE ALGAE?
Algae are primitive aquatic plants common to virtually all Missouri waters. These simple plants differ from other plants by lacking true stems, leaves or roots. Algae are a basic component of a complex aquatic food web, converting the sun’s energy into a form useful to other aquatic life. Algae are also a primary source of dissolved oxygen, which is a bi product of their energy production. Algae occur in three basic forms: planktonic, filamentous and macrophytic.
Information provided by the Missouri Conservation Department
POND UPDATE
The board has been researching methods to control the algae that has been building up in the pond over many years. Part of this process is to repair our windmill that has been up for more than 20 years and now is in need for a pump rebuild. The parts for the pump have been located and are now ordered. Friday April 2nd, the board met at the pond to remove the trash from the water and start the water treatment process. This treatment will be applied in several phases as recommended to protect the amazing school of Goldfish we discovered last week.