Monthly pond and lake management webinars continue
Programs to cover water quality, aquatic vegetation control
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has three pond and lake management webinars remaining in a series for landowners interested in improving the quality of their aquatic habitat and sport fishing opportunities.
Proper management can maximize the sport fishing potential of any pond or lake and help landowners avoid potential problems in the future.
Each hour-long pond management webinar begins at 6 p.m. and will cover subjects ranging from water quality and aquatic vegetation – the benefits and drawbacks of various species, vegetation control methods, herbicides and permitting.
Individual webinars are $35 each and will include a 30-minute Q&A at program’s end.
The programs will be presented by Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and director of the AgriLife Extension Aquatic Diagnostics Lab; and Brittany Chesser, AgriLife Extension aquatics vegetation management program specialist, both in Bryan-College Station.
April 20: Aquatic Herbicides and Permitting
Registration for the April 20 Aquatic Herbicides and Permitting webinar will be at https://bit.ly/3aattlE.
Chesser said this webinar will help pond owners clear up any confusion when choosing the right aquatic herbicide for their issue.
“AquaPlant, our free management resource, and my online courses will get pond owners really far in terms of identification and effective herbicide options,” she said. “However, there are other considerations they will need to take into account including position of the plant in the water column, growth stage, flow of water, surrounding desirable plants, etc.”
Chesser will provide in-depth information regarding all 15 aquatically approved herbicides, their common uses, modes of action, and the differences between terrestrial herbicides for better management decisions. Frequently asked questions such as herbicide toxicity to fish and humans will be covered. Chesser will also discuss various permitting regulations associated with aquatic herbicides.
Chesser said those who attend this webinar will be eligible for one laws and regulations continuing education unit from the Texas Department of Agriculture.
May 18 – Water Quality for Fisheries Management
Registration for this webinar is at https://bit.ly/3g3xhZS.
Sink will cover water quality, its importance for supporting healthy fish populations, how to determine water quality levels and the links between water quality and chemistry. This is important information for pond owners concerned about toxic organisms in their ponds, or with ponds that support cattle or livestock. The program will cover water testing and application of amendments that can drastically improve fishery quality.
June 15 – Aquatic Vegetation: Beneficial or Pest?
Registration for this webinar is at https://bit.ly/2RrpIlj.
Chesser will discuss the pros and cons of aquatic vegetation in ponds and lakes. The aesthetic and wildlife value of top beneficial aquatic vegetation and the threats nuisance aquatic vegetation species pose to ponds and lakes will be discussed. Chesser asks that pond or lake owners send high-quality, up-close photos against a light background to brittany.chesser@tamu.edu before June 13 for questions on specific species.
