The Missouri Department of Conservation has kindly given us access to aquatic plants that are a necessary part of our lake environment. These plants are called water willow. You may have noticed that some residents have planted small numbers of these attractive plants on the shoreline. These are shoreline flowers that improve the aesthetics, prevent erosion, and filter the water at our lake. These plants are a primary food source for many tiny invertebrates, which are the chief nutrient base for small fishes. This could potentially save us thousands of dollars due to the diminished need for bait fish stocking.
Water willow is a rooted, aquatic shoreline plant that will help stabilize the banks of Lake Tishomingo, preventing erosion from waves and weather. They also enhance water quality by restricting the amount of suspended materials introduced into the system. Water willows have attractive leaf patterns, colors, and flowers. They also contribute dissolved oxygen to the water, an important factor for fish and wildlife.
The best thing about water willow is the fact that they are easily controlled and non-invasive. They can be easily removed and do not spread in water deeper than 2.5 feet. In summary, our local Jefferson County biologist has given us many excellent reasons why water willow is the perfect plant for our lake: non-invasive, erosion-control, improved water quality, and necessary for aquatic animal life.