Why are Aquatic Plants Seen as a Problem?
If aquatic plants are so wonderful, why are they perceived as a problem? Most of the time, problems arise when plants are so numerous they impede recreational activities such as boating and swimming. When growth becomes very thick, they also harm some fisheries, particularly juvenile salmon and trout habitat. The causes of unnaturally high levels of plant growth are complex. Often it is attributed to increased nutrients, which come from around the lake or in the watershed. Contributing problems can include failing septic systems, fertilizer run-off, or agricultural waste. These increased nutrients cause the natural process of lake aging (eutrophication) to proceed at an accelerated rate, and increased plant and algal growth is part of this process. Another problem can arise if a nonnative species is inadvertently introduced to the lake. This often happens when recreational users unknowingly carry plants from one waterbody to another, or when someone discards aquarium plants into a lake
