2024 Aquatic Webinar Series
- 2024 Aquatic Webinar Series Package
- Registration for this package will provide you access to the 2024 Aquatic Webinar Series (10 webinars throughout 2024). This option is great for participants who plan on attending multiple webinars, as this package is offered at a discounted price. For participants who cannot attend live, a recording will be sent out.
- Months that offer continuing education units for Texas applicators are indicated with an asterisk and only provided to participants who attend that webinar live.
- Dates, titles, descriptions, and individual registrations can be found below.
- Register now by clicking HERE.
Presentation titles marked with an asterisk (*) represent webinars that offer continuing education units from Texas Department of Agriculture for participants who attend live.
- January 16, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Proactive Aquatic Vegetation Management*
- This 1-hour how-to educational program will cover how to proactively manage nuisance aquatic vegetation. Often pond owners follow a more reactive management strategy, not addressing aquatic vegetation issues until they are already out of hand. This results a long and hard battle to keep up with vegetation that is consistently reproducing and growing during warmer months. In this program, viewers will learn why aquatic vegetation may be taking over their ponds (sunlight, nutrients, etc.) and how to address the issue to its core. Several prevention methods will be described with guidance on each method’s “Do’s and Don’ts”. There will be a 30-minute Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar.
This webinar will offer 1 General CEU for pesticide applicators in Texas. - Register now by clicking HERE.
- February 13, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Sportfish Stocking Strategies for New and Renovated Ponds
- This 1 hour how-to educational program on pond stocking will cover multiple stocking strategies for small ponds to larger lakes. Common pond species that may be used in pond stocking will be covered as well as understanding basic genetics for stocking largemouth bass as well as advantages and disadvantages of hybrid species commonly available for pond stocking. Four stocking strategies as well as two variations of these strategies will be discussed for small ponds (less than 1 acre). Two stocking strategies with several variations will be discussed for ponds larger than 1 acre as well as trophy management strategies for trophy catfish (Trophy management for bass or sunfish will be covered in the upcoming fish management strategies webinar). Importantly, stocking order will be covered as stocking at the correct time in the correct order is critical to establishing a well-balanced pond that will provide decades of good fishing. Finally we will conclude with undesirable species that should not be stocked in ponds as they may be harmful to the fishery. There will be a 30 minute Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar.
- Register now by clicking HERE.
- March 19, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Algae: ID & Control*
- This 1-hour how-to educational program is on all thing’s algae. We will cover how to identify the main groups of algae, from micro to macro forms. Once identified, we will briefly discuss their biology and how that plays a role in the pond’s ecosystem and management. Specific management strategies, including mechanical, biological, and chemical options, when applicable, will be covered for each grouping. Finally, we will discuss the importance of correctly calculating copper by using the label for effective control and treatment timing. There will be a 30-minute Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar. This webinar will offer 1 Integrated Pest Management CEU for pesticide applicators in Texas.
- Register now by clicking HERE.
- April 16, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Fish Management Strategies
- Join us for a 1 hour how-to educational program on fish management strategies for ponds and lakes as we cover the pond food chain, what it takes to grow abundant or large fish, fertilization programs, fish feeds and feeding fish, sampling the fish population, many common problems that can be found within a fish population, and how to determine if your pond is suffering from stunted fish. We will also cover the maximum fish production, trophy bass, trophy bluegill/sunfish, trophy catfish, and black crappie management strategies that can be employed in your pond or lake. Finally, we will conclude with the types of structure and fish attractors that can be added to a lake to improve fishing. There will be a 30-minute Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar.
- Register now by clicking HERE.
- May 21, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- ID & Control of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation*
- This 1-hour how-to educational program will focus on submerged aquatic vegetation, which are rooted plants with most of their vegetative mass below the water surface, although some portions may stick above the water. We will cover how to identify common native and non-native species that can quickly take over small impoundments, including farm ponds. Once identified, we will briefly discuss their biology and how that plays a role in the pond’s ecosystem and management. Specific management strategies, including mechanical, biological, and chemical options, when applicable, will be covered for each group or species. Finally, we will discuss the importance of treatment timing and consideration as water temperatures change throughout the year. There will be a 30-minute Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar. This webinar will offer 1 Integrated Pest Management CEU for pesticide applicators in Texas.
- Register now by clicking HERE.
- June 18, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Diagnosing Fish Kills
- Summer and hot weather tends to bring about a number of fish kills in the state of Texas for various reasons, but most people often misinterpret the cause of fish kills. Join us for a 1 hour how-to educational program on what is a fish kill, what are the most common causes of fish kills, and how to diagnose and prevent fish kills. Learn how to play detective using the clues present at the time the fish kill occurs or shortly after. We will cover common causes including low dissolved oxygen, toxins, herbicide applications, algal bloom die-offs, water chemistry issues, diseases, parasites, and spills/contaminants and how to mitigate or correct these issues. We will cover signs and symptoms to watch for so hopefully you can recognize and prevent potential situations in which a fish kill may occur. There will be a 30 minute Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar.
- Register now by clicking HERE.
- July 23, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Cyanobacteria: Concerns & Management*
- This 1-hour how-to educational program will focus on Cyanobacteria, also known as blue green algae. Since 2019, cyanobacteria and blue-green algae have been used as buzz words in the media related to degraded water quality. In this program, we will discuss what conditions create the perfect environment for cyanobacteria to outcompete other organisms, toxins produced by cyanobacteria species, and visual cues that a bloom may be occurring. Finally, we will discuss misconceptions, misidentifications, and management strategies for several situations. There will be a 30-minute Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar. This webinar will offer 1 General CEU for pesticide applicators in Texas.
- Register now by clicking HERE.
- August 20, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Liming & Clearing Ponds
- This 1 hour how-to educational program will cover water quality aspects related to the need to lime ponds and potentially clear them. Most people are surprised to learn how critical water quality is for their fish, how many different water quality factors can impact their fish (often in unusual ways), and how minor amendments to water quality including liming or clearing their pond can drastically improve their fishery. Alkalinity, hardness, and calcium all affect fish survival and growth, and yet alkalinity is naturally decreased over time in a pond as photosynthesis and bacterial processes occur in a pond. This can lead to reduced primary productivity (food and energy production) and in turn lead to reduced fish growth and smaller fish populations. In rare cases, it can even lead to fish deaths and collapse of recruitment to a fishery. The primary way in which to increase alkalinity, hardness, and calcium is through liming a pond. We will discuss the various compounds that can be used to lime a pond and what affect it will have on your fishery. In a addition, turbidity (muddy water) also drastically limits primary productivity and fish growth and can be aesthetically displeasing to look at. We will discuss the various compounds that can be used to clear a pond, when to use them, and how to conduct a clearing test or commission a lab to do one for you. We will also cover what is tested during a standard water quality test, how to fix any issues found during the test, how to apply treatments, and how to have your water quality tested. There will be a 30 minute Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar.
- Register now by clicking HERE.
- September 17, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Controlling Emergent Vegetation*
- This 1-hour how-to educational program will focus on emergent aquatic vegetation, which are rooted plants often along the shoreline that stand above the surface of the water. We will cover how to identify common native and non-native species that can quickly take over small impoundments, including farm ponds. Once identified, we will briefly discuss their biology and how that plays a role in the pond’s ecosystem and management. Specific management strategies, including mechanical, biological, and chemical options, when applicable, will be covered for each group or species. Finally, we will discuss why fall is the optimal time to treat most emergent vegetation and other treatment timing considerations. There will be a 30-minute Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar. This webinar will offer 1 Integrated Pest Management CEU for pesticide applicators in Texas.
- Register now by clicking HERE.
- October 15, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Pond Management Myths
- This 1.5-hour how-to educational program will unravel common pond myths and mis-management practices. Often it is more difficult to “re-educate” pond owners to dispel long held myths and mis-management practices than it is to educate a new pond owner with no pre-existing “knowledge”. For instance, do fish really need rooted aquatic vegetation for any reason or is barley straw really a cure for many common pond issues? Do ponds need to be aerated, should you be practicing catch and release, what really is turnover and what causes it? Do you need to stock new fish in your pond every few years? Can old drywall be used to clear a pond? Are turtles hurting your fish population? Is well water good for a pond? Is diuron really an all-purpose aquatic herbicide? Can you use terrestrial herbicides in an aquatic setting? Do grass carp control filamentous algae? These myths and more will be addressed along with the science and reasoning behind the correct management strategies that should be employed when issues are encountered. There will be a 30-minute Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar.
- Register now by clicking HERE.
Self-Paced Online Courses
We have created self-paced online courses designed for landowners and pesticide applicators who are looking for aquatic vegetation management techniques or Continuing Education Credits (CEUs). Currently three of the four courses are available, but stay tuned for others releasing in 2021!
Click the title of each course to take you to the course registration page.
Aquatic Vegetation Management Basics
During this course, you will learn why aquatic vegetation is problematic, how to manage it, prevention methods, and effective forms of control and mode of action. This course is 1.5 hours long and offers 1 Integrated Pest Management CEU (TX only).
Algae & Floating Aquatic Plant Identification & Control
During this course, you will learn how to identify algae and floating aquatic plants, along with specific, effective control options. This course is 1 hour long and offers 1 Integrated Pest Management CEU (TX only).
Submerged Aquatic Plant Identification & Control
During this course, you will learn how to identify submerged aquatic plants, along with specific, effective control options. This course is 1 hour long and offers 1 Integrated Pest Management CEU (TX only).
Emergent Aquatic Plant Identification & Control
During this course, you will learn how to identify emergent aquatic plants, along with specific, effective control options. This course is 1 hour long and offers 1 Integrated Pest Management CEU (TX only).
Aquatic Plant Management Series Bundle
This four-course aquatic vegetation series provides landowners and pesticide applicators biological information for submerged, algae, floating, and emergent species of problematic aquatic plants found in Texas. Completing all four courses provides four hours of Integrated Pest Management CEU (TX only).
For further help with aquatic plant identification in the field, please see our newly revised Aquatic Vegetation Identification Cards in the bookstore!
