ABSTRACT

Bodies of water in the Midwest range from small farm ponds of 1 acre or less, constructed for the control of soil erosion and as a source of water for farm activities. Many lakes have relatively large areas of water less than 15 ft deep and many small farm ponds have a maximum water depth of less than 15 ft. The aquatic plants inhabiting the water areas can be placed into two major groups: the nonvascular aquatic plants and vascular aquatic plants. The vascular aquatic plants were divided into groups based on their distribution in water and their growth characteristics include emersed, free-floating, submersed, and floating-leaved aquatic plants. The aquatic herbicides can be divided into two main groups: contact and systemic which are based on how they affect the plant. Control of aquatic plants is usually construed to mean the removal of an existing stand of aquatic vegetation by the application of an aquatic herbicide.