Overwintering anacharis
Hi All,
Can anacharis be overwintered in a New England pond?  Would you advise it?  
<If it is the "right" "Elodea"... Please see here re: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PlantedTksSubWebIndex/elodea.htm
There are a few plants, some tropical and some temperate that go by the common name Anacharis... If you have a coldwater one, it likely will overwinter fine, unless the water freezes about it>
If so, should it be weighted to the bottom of the pond or can it be left to float on the surface as in warm months?  
<Best to wait it down if you anticipate your pond surface will freeze>
How should the anacharis covering the entire surface of a 125g bacteriological/bog filter be treated?  Should I submerse it in my pond for the winter?
<I would submerse it>
Karen Randall of BAS, you may know about this.
Thanks,
Jeff
<Yes, am sure. Bob Fenner>
Jeffrey Zegas

Anacharis (Elodea to Science) 7/20/04
Hello:  Is this plant suitable for outdoor ponds?  Our water turns green from algae and we've heard this plant helps.  We have some goldfish and  a frog in the pond.  Is the plant safe?  Do you sell this?  If so, how much, etc. Thank you.
<Anacharis is fine and fast growing oxygenating plant that is popular in ponds and aquaria. It is not hardy and will not winter over and as such can make quite a mess each winter. Its likely better to put in floating pond plants like water lettuce or water hyacinth, if not potted lilies and bog plants like Iris or Cat-tails, pickerel rush, etc. Do consider getting a good pond book too like John Dawes "Book of Water Gardens", or James Allison's "Water in the Garden". We do not sell any aquarium livestock or products my friend... we are a free-content website. Anthony Calfo>

Elodea/Anacharis (eradication)
Bob:
<Bob>
  My name is Bob Lombard  and I'm on a Commission for the Town of Stratford Ct. Our problem is we have a pond, 7 acres large, about 400' by 900' and a average depth of 4' and it is Loaded with Elodea/Anacharis. We use the pond for sailing model boats and we are trying to get rid of this weed.
  Do you have any methods of how we can get rid of these weeds?
<Mmm, I do (or should state I did... have been out of the pond weed biz for a couple decades now... likely technology has improved). A bunch to ask... about what other life is in the system you might want to keep... the disposition of water that leaves the pond (where does it go, what might it ill-effect?). And my one, good piece of "advice" (i.e. what I would do here) to contact the "Fish and Game" at the State level, ask in turn for "Pest Management" folks, agencies in CT and get their input. This may be a more/less simple job of employing a commercial poison (herbicide) at the local level... but might also be more involved... perhaps you folks could introduce some predators, competitors and effect a seasonal improvement... this would be my approach/strategy. Bob Fenner>
Bob Lombard
Stratford Ct. 06614

Anacharis, elodea and Egeria
Your article on the website is informative, but could you tell me what are the legal issues regarding sale and use of these plants for outdoor use?
<There are, as far as I'm aware, no such restrictions on the sale of freshwater plants in the ornamental trade. There are some laws on the books concerning Caulerpa algae... and some fin-fish... vis a vis they're potential harm on release to the wild>
The similarity of elodea to Hydrilla scares me, knowing what an environmental problem Hydrilla has become. FYI, I am a landscape architect in Louisiana.
<These two genera are VERY similar indeed. As usual, I proscribe that nothing be released to the wild... terrestrial plants included. Bob Fenner>
Margaret Waring

Re: No Elodea in Washington state...
Hi Bob,
I remember reading that there are some restrictions on Elodea. Several states have defined it as a noxious weed, including Alabama, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington. A nice list of what's considered a weed where is www.pondkeeper.com/articlepdf/noxiousweeds.pdf ....
--Ananda
<Thanks much. Will post... Bob F>