Although Curly Pond Weed has been around the Iowa Great Lakes for years, it is now spreading rapidly on the north end of East Lake Okoboji. It is an Aquatic Invasive Species that has crowded out native plants. Because of its thickness and rapid growth feature is...
Curlyleaf pondweed was introduced into Iowa in the early 1900’s and is prevalent in all but 2 states in the U.S. This plant has had extraordinary growing conditions this year as evidenced by the thick mats of this plant that have grown to the surface of East Okoboji Lake.
After Brian Griffin pulls his boat out of West Loon Lake, a couple of weeds dangle from his trailer and propeller. One is a nice surprise: white-stemmed pondweed, an endangered plant, says Michael Adam, senior biologist for Lake County. The other is a problem: Eurasian watermilfoil.