Control for aquatic weeds affecting your Sunshine Coast property
At Dams Cleaned, we've been dealing with noxious and invasive weeds for almost 2 decades. We know just how difficult it can be to control or remove aquatic weeds. Thankfully our team has specialised equipment and techniques that make us the most sought-after dam cleaners on the Sunshine Coast and throughout South East Queensland.
If you want to know what you're up against, read on to learn how to identify aquatic and semi-aquatic weeds that may be in your waterways. Then contact our expert cleaners for a definitive, chemical-free solution.
If you want to know what you're up against, read on to learn how to identify aquatic and semi-aquatic weeds that may be in your waterways. Then contact our expert cleaners for a definitive, chemical-free solution.
Alligator Weed – Alternanthera Philoxeroides
Because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impact Alligator weed is classed as a ‘Weed of National Significance' by the Australian government. This durable and persistent weed invades both land and water environments and resists many control measures. It is found in most coastal areas of Australia, including South East Queensland.
Alligator weed is highly adaptable and can grow in a variety of ways. This includes with roots embedded in the banks of rivers, dams or lakes, at the bottom of shallow water, or floating freely on the surface. The leaves spread out across the water, interconnecting and forming dense mats. It has hollow stems which help it float, and the roots are thin and stringy, trailing in the water.
Declared a Weed of National Significance
Alligator weed is highly adaptable and can grow in a variety of ways. This includes with roots embedded in the banks of rivers, dams or lakes, at the bottom of shallow water, or floating freely on the surface. The leaves spread out across the water, interconnecting and forming dense mats. It has hollow stems which help it float, and the roots are thin and stringy, trailing in the water.
Declared a Weed of National Significance
Water Lettuce – Pistia Stratiotes
Water lettuce received its name because of its resemblance to a floating open head of lettuce. Water lettuce has very thick leaves that are dull green, hairy, and ridged. It also has no leaf stalks. Water lettuce roots are light-coloured and feathery, and the flowers are small and barely noticeable.
Water lettuce mats together and clogs waterways, interrupting boating, fishing and almost all other water activities. It also degrades water quality by greatly reducing oxygen levels in the water. This is a huge danger to aquatic life, both plant and animal, under the surface.
Declared a Weed of National Significance
Water lettuce mats together and clogs waterways, interrupting boating, fishing and almost all other water activities. It also degrades water quality by greatly reducing oxygen levels in the water. This is a huge danger to aquatic life, both plant and animal, under the surface.
Declared a Weed of National Significance
Salvinia – Salvinia Molesta
Salvinia is an aquatic weed that can choke waterways and as such has been declared a ‘Weed of National Significance' by the Australian government. Infestations are wide spread in waterways on the east coast of Australia. Typically this weed is found floating on still or slow-moving water, characterised by folded fronds, and can rapidly cover the entire water surface with a thick mat of vegetation.
This blocks out sun and prevents oxygen exchanges, gradually making the water unsuitable for fish and other animals. Its fronds also provide an ideal breeding environment for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Not only are infestations a major obstacle to the enjoyment and use of water, but they also block irrigation, cause flooding and pollute drinking water.
Declared a Weed of National Significance
This blocks out sun and prevents oxygen exchanges, gradually making the water unsuitable for fish and other animals. Its fronds also provide an ideal breeding environment for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Not only are infestations a major obstacle to the enjoyment and use of water, but they also block irrigation, cause flooding and pollute drinking water.
Declared a Weed of National Significance
Parrot's Feather – Myriophyllum Aquaticum
Parrot's feather is a perennial aquatic herb that grows in flowing and standing fresh to slightly brackish water, streams, lakes, drains and canals, seasonal and permanent wetlands and can persist in saturated soils. It forms dense strands that impede the flow of water and harm other plant life.
This fern-like weed is characterised by its thin, hairless stems that are similar in shape to feathers. Parrot's Feather produces small flowers in the upper leaf forks. It is widely seen in coastal districts of southern and eastern Australia.
Declared a Weed of National Significance
This fern-like weed is characterised by its thin, hairless stems that are similar in shape to feathers. Parrot's Feather produces small flowers in the upper leaf forks. It is widely seen in coastal districts of southern and eastern Australia.
Declared a Weed of National Significance
Bull Rush – Cumbungi
Bull Rush are semi-aquatic plants characterised by tall, thin cane-like stem growing to 2.5m high. It is often found growing on the banks of lakes, dams, irrigation channels, marshes and rivers throughout Australia. It prefers slow-moving water with high nutrient levels. If left to spread, Bull Rush can cause many problems in farm dams, creeks, ponds and rivers including disrupting water flow and reducing oxygen levels in the water. The grass-like leaves are thick and spongy, and each stem produces one flowerhead in summer.
Duckweed – Spirodela Polyrhiza
Often known as giant or great duckweed, is the largest of its variety, though still very small relative to other weeds. It consists solely of 1 to 3 leaves floating freely on the water. It bears seedlings which breakoff and grow in the same areas. Though duckweed is sometimes sold for aquariums, it can quickly get out of control, forming thick mats, often covering the surface, in quiet water such as ponds, marshes, lakes and slow-moving streams.
Duckweed can be an aggressive invader and is often found mixed in with other aquatic plants, filling any remaining surface space. If colonies cover the surface of the water, then oxygen levels under the surface will reduce, eventually resulting in plant and fish death.
Should you notice any of these weeds in your waterways and are concerned they will become a greater problem, please give our team a call.
Duckweed can be an aggressive invader and is often found mixed in with other aquatic plants, filling any remaining surface space. If colonies cover the surface of the water, then oxygen levels under the surface will reduce, eventually resulting in plant and fish death.
Should you notice any of these weeds in your waterways and are concerned they will become a greater problem, please give our team a call.