The cattail shoots are also known to harbor large numbers of adult mosquitoes during the day. This is critical given the recent upsurge of West Nile and Zika viruses. The interstitial spaces of cattails create stagnant water which is optimal for mosquito larvae survival. A primary concern is that cattails provide prime habitat for pesky insects and other undesirable wildlife.It is not uncommon for cattails to completely take over very shallow ponds. Unmanaged cattails can surround a pond and also extend outward into the pond itself. Excessive cattails block access to the pond and can interfere with recreational uses such as angling and boating.All of this leads to accelerated siltation and creates the need for costly dredging. Eutrophication causes the buildup of organic sludge on the pond bottom and encourages the growth of algae and noxious aquatic vegetation. The annual reproductive, growth, and decay cycle accelerates eutrophication (aging) of the pond.In fact, many municipalities require that communities eliminate any cattails growing above, on, or below spillways. Blocking of drain structures and spillways increases the risk of flooding. These include drain structures, emergency spillways, auto-fills, and irrigation intakes. Cattail growth can obstruct critical elements of a pond.Cattails grow vigorously and the resulting biomass can eventually block out the growth of more desirable and less invasive plant species.In ponds where angling is a top priority, fishermen can often increase catch rates by targeting those areas in and around cattail stands. Cattails are commonly used as cover and feeding areas for popular gamefish such as largemouth bass, crappie, and various sunfish species.Cattails provide nesting and breeding habitat for a variety of desirable wildlife, most notably red-winged blackbirds and migratory ducks.Likewise, moderate cattail stands in the upper end of retention ponds slow down heavy storm-water velocities and reduce the risk of erosion. They can help minimize bank erosion on steep or wind swept shorelines. The rhizomes of the cattails are good for stabilizing soil.The base of the cattails catch trash and filter excess nutrients which would otherwise end up in the pond fueling the out of control growth of algae. The extensive vegetative growth network is good for filtering heavy runoff.Therefore, it is best to decide sooner rather than later.
Allowing uncontrolled growth significantly increases the long term costs associated with pond management. They eventually realize their mistake a year or two down the road.
We have seen numerous instances where a pond owner initially wants to keep the cattails sometimes deliberately planting them in a new pond. We always recommend at least some control measures be taken. These should be used by pond owners to help determine a stance on cattails and decide whether or not they should be controlled. The pros and cons of cattail growth are given below. The growth process starts over the following spring. In the winter, the cattails go dormant and the shoots turn brown, fall over, and decay. This spreads more cattails to other portions of the pond, or even to a neighboring body of water. The seed heads eventually rupture and the seeds are dispersed by wind action. Cattails can reach 10 feet tall by the time the seed heads are produced. The rhizomes produce hundreds of young cattail shoots which elongate and produce seed heads by mid-summer. These rhizomes create an extensive network that can quickly surround a pond. Unlike most plants, cattails have roots or “rhizomes” that grow laterally.
0 kommentar(er)
