Cascade® herbicide can make your submerged weed problems disappear.
Now that Cascade® herbicide is registered for control of submerged weeds in irrigation canals, people want to know more. Here are the frequently asked questions, and the answers.- What is Cascade?
- Will irrigation water treated with Cascade injure crops?
- How will Cascade not injure crops, yet control aquatic plants?
- How long will it take to see results after a Cascade application?
- How does Cascade break down in the environment?
- Is Cascade toxic to fish and wildlife?
- Does Cascade have a restriction on livestock watering?
- What are the Cascade application rates needed to control aquatic weeds in my irrigation system?
- How many applications will I need to make to control the aquatic vegetation for the entire season using Cascade?
- How many miles of control can I expect downstream from one Cascade application point?
- My canal system discharges into a natural body of water i.e. river, lake, reservoir, etc. Do I have to close these discharges when I make a Cascade application?
- Do I need a pesticide applicator license to apply Cascade to my canal system?
- I have both pondweed and algae in my canal system. Will Cascade control them both?
- Can I purchase Cascade directly from UPI?
- What type of application equipment do I need to apply Cascade?
- What will the pending NPDES requirements mean for Cascade applications in 2010, 2011 and beyond?
What is Cascade?
Cascade is an aquatic herbicide that contains the dipotassium salt of the active ingredient endothall. German scientists first synthesized endothall in 1928. The endothall molecule is based upon a natural occurring chemical produced by blister beetles (cantharidin). Since 1958, endothall has been used extensively for aquatic weed control in ponds, lakes, and reservoirs throughout the United States. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has now established tolerances for all irrigated crops and endothall (Cascade) can now be used in irrigation canals without any restrictions on irrigation.
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Will irrigation water treated with Cascade injure crops?
When used according to the label, Cascade is not phytotoxic to crops. Cascade has been registered by EPA for use on all cropping groups grown in the United States.How will Cascade not injure crops, yet control aquatic plants?
Aquatic plants are very different than terrestrial crops. Aquatic plants do not have a waxy cuticle on the leave surface whereas terrestrial crops do have the waxy cuticle. Aquatic plants and algae are typically immersed in the treated water assuring complete exposure to the herbicide.How long will it take to see results after a Cascade application?
Cascade works much differently than other commonly used products like Magnacide and xylene. Within the first week after a Cascade application the majority of the leaves will senesce from the plant. The plants will also start to turn brown to black in color. After the first week, the stems are still present within the water column and it will take from 2-4 weeks for the stems to deteriorate enough that they will lie down on the bottom of the canal where they will slowly decay.How does Cascade break down in the environment?
It is broken down via microbial degradation. The microbes naturally occurring in the water use the endothall molecule as a food source; thereby, breaking down the endothall molecule into organic acids, carbon dioxide and water.Is Cascade toxic to fish and wildlife?
When used according to the label, Cascade is not toxic to fish or other wildlife and does not bioaccumulate in the food change.Does Cascade have a restriction on livestock watering?
No. The U.S. EPA has allowed for the removal of this restriction based on their risk assessment. (A Supplemental label is available from UPI).What are the Cascade application rates needed to control aquatic weeds in my irrigation system?
The majority of applications will target the aquatic weed sago pondweed. The rates needed for sago pondweed control are approximately 1.25 gallons of Cascade® per cubic foot per second (CFS), which is directly tied to UPI’s rule of 24.Hours of Application Concentration in Parts Per Million
24 hrs. 1 PPM
12 hrs. 2 PPM
8 hrs. 3 PPM
6 hrs. 4 PPM
If targeting an aquatic weed other than sago pondweed, please see the Cascade label for recommended rates and length of application.
How many applications will I need to make to control the aquatic vegetation for the entire season using Cascade?
It will depend on the length of your growing season. Applications of Cascade have given 10-12 weeks of control and some applications have given up to 16 weeks of control. Depending on your location, you may get by with one application, or you may require two to three applications per growing season.How many miles of control can I expect downstream from one Cascade application point?
Miles of control depend on water temperatures. Cooler water temperatures will facilitate more miles of control; whereas, warmer water will likely reduce the number of miles controlled. Applications made to date have provided more than 20 miles of control.My canal system discharges into a natural body of water i.e. river, lake, reservoir, etc. Do I have to close these discharges when I make a Cascade application?
There are no discharge restrictions for Cascade. However, some states have discharge limits under NPDES or other permitting processes. Check with your regulatory agencies.Do I need a pesticide applicator license to apply Cascade to my canal system?
It depends on your state regulations. Cascade is a general use aquatic pesticide. In some states, an applicator license is required. Check with your state Department of Agriculture.I have both pondweed and algae in my canal system. Will Cascade control them both?
Cascade will not control algae but will have an indirect affect on its growth. In most cases, the pondweed will act as an anchor for the algae to attach to and grow. Cascade eliminates the pondweed anchor; thereby, reducing algae growth. Teton will control algae at very low concentrations of 0.15 to 0.3 PPM.Can I purchase Cascade directly from UPI?
For your convenience, both products are available through local distributors. Call UPI for a list of local distributors in your area.What type of application equipment do I need to apply Cascade?
In most cases, a small 12-volt pump with low flow meters and or inline orifices will be sufficient. Most agricultural pesticide suppliers in your area can help you choose the equipment needed.What will the pending NPDES requirements mean for Cascade applications in 2010, 2011 and beyond?
For 2010, NPDES permits are only required in the states of California, Washington and Oregon. Please check with your local NPDES permitting offices to determine what each state requires.For 2011 and beyond, the U.S. EPA is developing an NPDES permit that is to be implemented in all states by April 10, 2011. More information will be provided as EPA progresses in the development of this permit.
For more information, contact Dale Carpenter at 208-860-1867 or email dale.carpenter@uniphos.com, or call the UPI toll-free number at 800-438-6071.