Some Equipment for Mechanical Control of Aquatic Weeds
Technical literature has repeatedly chronicled the devastation wrought by aquatic weeds growing uncontrolled. Reservoirs become infested and lose significant water storage capacity; lakes are overrun and rapidly degenerate to near worthlessness; canals and ditches are clogged or choked restricting water flow; and water system pumping intakes become fouled and damaged. Aquatic weeds can also serve as a haven for disease carrying insects. Along with their dryland brethren, aquatic weeds unquestionably constitute a full-fledged pest -- and often a threat -- to man. Aquatic weeds can be controlled by several methods: mechanical, chemical, biological, and cultural means. Each can be used successfully (alone and sometimes in combination), but economic, physical, or environmental aspects of a specific situation often eliminate several alternatives thereby limiting the technology that is feasible. This report makes no pretense of being inclusive of all units available worldwide. However, the information represents most of those firms suggested by experts in aquatic weed control in a number of countries. Also, the equipment is, with a few exceptions, all designed to operate on the water surface. Ditch-bank weed cutters, mowers, and other land based equipment -- such as used in drag chaining -- have not been included, nor have dredges. In short, this is a partial view of highly specialized equipment designed expressly for mechanical control of aquatic weeds.