Aquatic Invasive Species

Home | Invasive Species | Aquatic Invasive Species | Curlyleaf Pondweed

Curlyleaf Pondweed
(Potamogeton crispus)

Photo Credit: Virginia Tech
Weed ID Guide

Curlyleaf Pondweed is a submerged perennial aquatic plant that can be identified by its reddish-green, wavy leaves with finely toothed margins. The leaves are typically 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters wide and 3 to 10 centimeters long. Stems are to some extent flattened and branched. The flowers are small and not immediately obvious and arranged on a solid spike on a curved, 2.5 to 5 centimeter stalk. Plants can grow to 4 meters in deep water whereas undersized forms of the plant occur in shallow water.

Curlyleaf Pondweed is found in freshwater lakes, rivers, ponds and streams, and slightly brackish waters.  They can grow in thick beds which out-compete native aquatic plants. The dense surface mats can interfere with water-based recreational activities. In some water bodies it becomes the dominate species and causes significant problems due to the increase in phosphorus concentrations that cause an increase in algae blooms. Curlyleaf Pondweed can spread by plant fragments attached to boats and equipment that are not properly cleaned.

Management steps include cleaning all vegetation off boats and equipment before leaving the water. Long-term management requires the reduction or elimination of turions (hardened stem tips) to interrupt its life cycle. Mechanical control includes raking, cutting or harvesting to provide immediate relief and herbicides are available.

Curlyleaf Pondweed infestation.
Photo Credit: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org
Bugwood.org

Related Links

100th Meridian Initiative
California Department of Fish and Game
Protect Your Waters
Tahoe Resource Conservation District - Aquatic Invasives

Please be aware the Printable Flyers found on the right side of this page are in a PDF format. Larger files can take several minutes to open. If you have difficulty accessing these documents or would like to obtain them in an alternate format, please contact us. The PDF format requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If you need the Acrobat Reader, please select the link provided below. Selecting this link will take you to Adobe's web site. From there, you can download your free copy of the Acrobat Reader program. Once you've downloaded the Acrobat Reader you will need to return to this page.

Get Acrobat Reader