Test plantings could be a part of any of these projects. These projects are most suited to non-Corps reservoirs and water bodies. The local sponsor's share of project costs. This form of technical expertise is available on a cost-reimbursable basis. Examples of this type of assistance included establishment of aquatic and wetland plants for habitat enhancement and production and planting of aquatic plants for constructed wetlands.
Unvegetated reservoirs are undesirable because they provide poor aquatic habitat.
The lack of aquatic vegetation is especially critical in reservoirs because their irregular, dendritic shape, generally provides much more shallow water than natural lakes. Reservoir ecosystems thus should include well developed aquatic plant communities comprised of many native species. While the aquatic plant communities of natural lakes develop over hundreds of years, reservoir waters are impounded in a matter of months. Most of our reservoirs are still relatively young and it should not be surprising that many have not yet developed aquatic plant communities. Because many reservoirs are operated for flood control or other project purposes, they often exhibit large water level fluctuations which can make it difficult for aquatic plants to become established through natural colonization processes.