What does maintenance control aim to achieve in aquatic environments?

Maintenance control aims to maintain aquatic plant populations at low densities to prevent them from becoming overly dominant and disrupting the ecological balance of aquatic environments. By controlling the density of these plants, maintenance control helps to manage issues such as reduced water flow, increased turbidity, and changes in water chemistry that can occur when plants grow excessively. It also helps to ensure that recreational areas remain accessible and that aquatic ecosystems remain healthy and functional.

Although promoting dense aquatic plant growth, eliminating all aquatic vegetation, or encouraging biodiversity may seem beneficial in certain contexts, they do not align with the objectives of maintenance control, which focuses specifically on keeping plant populations within manageable levels to support the overall health and balance of the aquatic ecosystem.