What is a major drawback of mechanical removal?

Mechanical removal of aquatic weeds involves physically harvesting or cutting the plants from the water body. One significant drawback to this method is its ineffectiveness at certain water depths. Many aquatic weed species thrive in deeper waters where mechanical equipment cannot reach, limiting the overall effectiveness of this control method. In addition, removing weeds from shallow areas might not address the weed problem comprehensively, as the remaining plants in deeper sections can continue to proliferate and re-infest the area.

While factors like noise pollution and reduced water flow can occur with mechanical removal, they are not universally applicable to all situations. Additionally, mechanical methods can often be selective in what they remove, targeting specific species while leaving others behind, which can lead to unintended ecological imbalances. Hence, the primary limitation recognized in the context of the question is the restriction caused by varying water depths, making the method less effective in addressing the full spectrum of aquatic weed proliferation.