It's aquatic plants that fashion a nursery for all sorts of creatures ranging from birds to beaver to bass to bugs. The health of a lake depends on a healthy plant community. Contact your District DNR Aquatic Plant Coordinator listed on the bottom of this page for more information about aquatic plant control and protection. In most instances, control of native aquatic plants is discouraged or should be limited to high use recreational areas next to piers, docks or within navigational channels. In some cases there may be penalties for improper removal of aquatic plants.
Aquatic plants make good composting material, especially if a little limestone is added.
Mechanical harvesting of aquatic plants is not regulated by the DNR, although a cutting plan must be approved when a Recreational Boating Facility grant is used to purchase a plant harvester. Cut fragments must be collected and removed from the lake immediately. Fish, reptiles or amphibians that have been collected by the mechanical harvester should be returned to the lake as soon as possible. Generally, harvesting should be limited to high-use, recreational areas within a lake. Mechanical harvesting with conventional equipment should not be attempted in water less than 2 or 3 feet deep to avoid resuspension of bottom sediments.