Abstract: A system for harvesting and processing aquatic plants growing on the surface of a body of water includes a shore mounted harvesting apparatus which gathers the plants from the surface of the water and conveys them to a first chopper assembly which rips and shreds the plants to a first manageable size. The harvester assembly includes a first rotating drum positioned in the water which forces the plants upward and into engagement with a second rotating drum having a plurality of spiral wound vanes which engage the material and forces it along the passageway into further engagement with a third rotating drum which cooperates with a cutting bar to serrate and shred the material. The shredded material is thereafter transferred to a chopping assembly which comminutes the aquatic plants into very small pieces.

Abstract: A system for conditioning and removing aquatic plants growing on the surface of a body of water includes a water craft having at least one rotatable drum, the specific density of which is less than one. Conditioning ribs extend away from the outer peripheral surface of the drum and a prime mover is provided for moving the craft across an area of compacted aquatic plants. The drum is rotated to permit the ribs to separate and condition the plants for a relatively uniform distribution across the surface of the water. The craft has means, such as a rope, cable or pushing fork for drawing the aquatic plants into a conveyor for removal. The water craft is provided with a steering mechanism of rugged construction permitting relatively facile movement.