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Which Sediment or Muck Removal Option Is Best for My Waterbody?

Which Sediment or Muck Removal Option Is Best for My Waterbody?

Virtually all explanations of dredging include the physical scooping up of underwater sand and clay sediments to enhance a merchant ship’s access to a port or waterway. If these waterways become inaccessible, the economic consequences are far-reaching.

Today, however, massive algal blooms, animal fatalities from toxic byproducts of algae, and the spread of invasive plants and animals are sharing the front-page news with national economic interests. For those of us living on a waterbody, it’s clear that our personal economic interests are rewarded via higher property values if the nearby water is both navigable and healthy. As a waterbody ages and becomes “silted-in,” organic nutrients fuel invasive plant and algae growth, and property owners suffer the consequences of bright green water, fish kills, and dangerous swimming conditions. Unfortunately, the solution to these rampant biological problems involves more than just scooping up the muck. Hence, we need to look at dredging options and aquatic management in a unified perspective.

Choosing the Dredging Tool for Your Waterbody

Fortunately, there are many proactive aquatic management solutions that can be implemented to help slow or prevent the aging of waterbodies, such as proper land use management, maintenance of beneficial vegetative buffers and sediment traps, installation of aeration systems, and utilization of nutrient absorbing products. However, when sediment buildup is too much to dock a boat or when aquatic plants and algae are perpetually out of control, you’ll need to call in a professional waterbody manager accompanied by a portfolio of dredging techniques.

There are several methods of sediment or muck removal: hydraulic dredging, clamshell or backhoe dredging, dry dredging, and hydro-raking. The chosen method will depend on a number of factors, including sediment composition, environmental sensitivity, the volume of materials removed, budget, and disposal considerations.

Which Dredging or Sediment Removal Option Is Best for My Waterbody?

Mechanical Dredging

Mechanical dredges (clamshell or backhoe dredgers) use buckets to scoop out bottom sediment and transfer it to trucks or barges for transport to disposal sites. Truck transportable mechanical dredges such as Aquamogs can remove small volumes of sediments such as shoals that prevent boater access to a lake, while large oceangoing dredgers are capable of digging to great depths to facilitate the new era of ultra–large container ships. In the case of the drawdown and excavation method (dry dredging), the whole waterbody is drained and sufficient shoreline access is needed for the trucking and hauling involved. However, most lakes cannot be emptied due to environmental concerns or high water tables.

Hydraulic Dredge

Hydraulic Dredging

Hydraulic dredges are the workhorse of the dredging industry and are effective in moving large volumes of organic and inorganic sediment. They work by sucking slurry (a mixture of sediment and water) from the bottom and then pumping it to an offshore location through a pipeline. Hydraulic dredges have almost continuous operating cycles, allowing the removal of large volumes of material in a short time while minimizing the resuspension of material into the water column due to their closed-cycle system of operation. Typically, this method is better suited for sediments with little debris mixed in, as large objects and rocks can damage the cutter and clog the pipeline. A large disposal area is also required.

Hydro-rake

Hydro-raking

Unlike the mechanical and hydraulic dredge, the hydro-rake cannot be used to remove sediment, however, it is an effective tool for accumulated muck removal. Hydro-raking is frequently chosen as a method to remove nuisance aquatic vegetation, root structures, debris, and organic muck on a smaller scale waterbody.  The hydro-rake can best be described as a floating barge upon which is mounted a backhoe with a digging bucket or rake capable of removing accumulated muck in water as shallow as 18 inches. Hydro-raking can effectively target organic muck accumulations and debris in coves, stormwater ponds, and other shallow areas. If a pond is periodically maintained through hydro-raking, the need to perform a large-scale dredging project may be eliminated, saving financial resources and minimizing ecological disruptions.

Paragraph 5 - Managing vegetation in and around - fountains and aeration

How to Maintain Balanced Water Quality

Dredging is generally thought of as an expensive activity, but both your waterbody can benefit significantly from just a few days of budget-friendly spot dredging at pump intakes, swimming areas, or around boat docks. However, the ultimate cost-savings approach is proactive management. By taking preventative steps to reduce erosion, limit weed and algae growth, and maintain balanced water quality, it’s possible to prolong the need for both dredging and hydro-raking. The best way to accomplish this is through an annual management program that leans on sustainable strategies like aeration, nutrient remediation, shoreline maintenance, and many other custom solutions to maintain a healthy, functional waterbody.

To learn more or navigate through a wide variety of sediment, aquatic plant, or algae removal options for your waterbody, we encourage you to speak with your lake or pond management professional.

 

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2025 Sales for Members: Advertising in our Magazine and in the News Blast and on our website.

2025 Sales for Members: Advertising in our Magazine and in the News Blast and on our website.

  • Posted: Jan 25, 2025
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Take advantage of our Advertising Sale Today.

We have Advertising in our magazine and in the News Blast Avail for 2025

  • News blast: Your company will show as a sponsor for the full year, we publish over 3 blasts per week, M,W,F  We also have a special Engineering every Thursday on that your logo is on that page with a link to our Directory, ( only 10 spaces @ 450.00 for the year )
  • Magazine Advertising Sponsorship’s, Full Pages, Half Pages and other. This sale is buy 3 months we match it with the same amount of months. (buy 3 get 3 months free)

 


 

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Write articles we will publish.

 

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    Keep Your FL Lake Clean and Problem-Free by SOLITUDE

    Keep Your FL Lake Clean and Problem-Free by SOLITUDE

    Addressing Major Lake Issues Before the Growing Season

    The growing season refers to the time of year – typically the spring months – when aquatic weedsalgae, and toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) begin to appear in the water. The timeframe can differ depending on the region of the country in which a waterbody is located and natural weather variations. But no matter where you live, nuisance growth may indicate imbalances in the aquatic ecosystem that were not addressed in the weeks and months leading up to this defining season.

    Many property owners do not realize that the management of lakes and ponds shouldn’t end when winter weather arrives. In fact, it is a great time to reevaluate waterbody goals for the coming year and implement management solutions that are more difficult to apply when the water is being actively used for recreation, stormwater collection, or aesthetic purposes.

    Prepare Your Lake for Spring: Here’s Where to Start

    Typically, the off-season months provide a valuable window to complete long-awaited projects like shoreline restoration, mechanical hydro-raking, or dredging, and nutrient remediation. Each of these solutions can help support healthier water quality conditions and reduce the risk of major lake issues when the growing season arrives.

    Prevent algae and weeds next growing season with these management tips:

    Repair Shoreline Damage & Enhance Your Buffer Zone

    Jagged, crumbling, exposed shorelines can endanger people working or spending time in and around the water. Degraded shorelines can also contribute to the accumulation of muck at the bottom of lakes and ponds, and even cause waterfront properties to “shrink” as earth collapses into the water. These conditions don’t occur overnight; rather, they are a result of prolonged wear and tear from recreation, wind and rainfall, nuisance wildlife activity, urban development, and poor landscaping practices.

    If ignored, erosion can aggravate water quality imbalances that increase the risk of weeds, toxic algae, and other problems during the growing season. Restoring degraded shorelines well before this time will help ensure your waterbody starts off on the right foot come spring.

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    Repair Erosion Damage with Bioengineered Shorelines

    Cutting-edge bioengineering techniques using a durable mesh material have made it possible to safely restore the aesthetics and functionality of degraded shorelines while repurposing eroded earth. Depending on the size and scope of a project, this process may require significant downtime, so the fall and winter months are an opportune time to take advantage of this service.

    Once installed, these bioengineered shorelines will provide many years of stabilization and erosion control, particularly when beneficial vegetative buffers are also maintained around the waterbody to filter pollutants from stormwater runoff known to provoke water quality imbalances.

    • Shoreline Erosion Repair Results

    Remove Muck & Debris with Hydro-raking

    Lakes and ponds are consistently inundated with eroded sediment and debris such as branches, leaves, lawn clippings, trash, and other detritus that create bottom muck containing highly concentrated nutrients as they decompose. Over time, muck levels can increase, reducing the overall depth and volume of the waterbody. Excessive build-up may lead to a host of problems during the growing season, including flooding, depleted dissolved oxygen levels, water murkiness, bad odors, fish kills, and increased weed and algae infestations.

    It is possible to physically remove build-up using mechanical solutions like hydro-raking and dredging. Hydro-raking is often used for “spot treatments” in areas with disproportionate materials, such as stormwater pipes and dock areas. A hydro-rake is essentially a floating barge with a rake attachment that can remove up to 500 pounds of decomposing material in each scoop and deposit it on the shore for physical removal or repurposing during shoreline restoration projects.

    Hydro-Raking Services

    Restore Depth with Dredging

    If build-up has reached more concerning levels, dredging may be required. Professionals choose from two primary types of dredging equipment based on the goals for the property – each can restore the waterbody to its original depth and volume, but may reset the ecosystem entirely. Conducting dredging far ahead of the upcoming growing season provides a window to begin implementing proactive solutions to ensure water quality is healthy and stable come spring.

    The off-season is an excellent time to complete mechanical projects as they can both interfere dramatically with the use of the waterbody. Removing muck and debris that accumulated during the warmer months will also help reduce overall nutrient concentrations, providing less fuel for algae and weeds when the growing season arrives.

    Balance Water Quality with Nutrient Management

    Phosphorus and nitrogen are the primary nutrients responsible for the growth of excess weeds and algae and are found in both the water column and the bottom sediments. Naturally-occurring nutrient remediation products like Phoslock and Aluminum Sulfate (Alum) can be professionally applied to bind with nutrients, making them unavailable for uptake by weeds and algae. Other solutions like EutroSORB may be used to filter and physically remove undesirable nutrients from the water.

    Nutrient remediation can be effective in the warmer months and, when implemented by licensed professionals, is low-risk for use around people and animals. However, conducting nutrient remediation services during the off-season can help prevent nuisance growth before it becomes a problem, allowing people to start enjoying their waterbodies sooner. It’s important to note that regions that experience more severe winters and freezing waters may not be candidates for off-season nutrient remediation services. A professional can help stakeholders determine the most effective time of year to apply nutrient remediation products.

    Avoid Water Quality Issues This Growing Season

    It can be confusing for stakeholders to know what their waterbodies need – and when – but it’s never too early or late to begin implementing these or other lake and pond management solutions. Ultimately, we share your goal of maximizing the use of your water resources throughout the year. By taking advantage of the cooler months to complete these impactful projects, stakeholders can avoid major water quality issues that the growing season is known for. Instead, they can focus on enjoying the water without looming threats of nuisance growth – and the complaints, safety concerns, and unexpected costs that come with it.

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    Happy Holidays & A Joyful New Year from the SOLitude Family

    Happy Holidays & A Joyful New Year from the SOLitude Family

    • Posted: Dec 20, 2024
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    Happy Holidays & A Joyful New Year

    As 2021 wraps up, we want to thank you for joining us in our mission to protect freshwater resources.

    We know this past year was difficult for many, but we hope you were able to create memorable experiences on and around your waterbody despite the challenges we all faced. We believe that a balanced waterbody, whether it’s utilized for recreation, stormwater collection, or aesthetics, can make those around it happier and healthier.

     

    As we look forward into 2025 and beyond, we are more passionate than ever to maintain our precious aquatic resources and promote meaningful experiences for our loyal clients.

    During this time, contact us here or leave a message at 888-480-LAKE (5253).

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    Why Proactive Annual Lake and Pond Management Is Better for the Environment and Your Wallet

    Why Proactive Annual Lake and Pond Management Is Better for the Environment and Your Wallet

    Enjoy Balanced Water with Proactive Care

    Keeping a lake or pond healthy can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. With a proactive management plan, you can reduce water quality issues while protecting the environment and saving money in the long run.

    Explore how you can keep your waterbody balanced and beautiful with proactive solutions.

    Why Proactive Annual Lake and Pond Management Is Better for the Environment and Your Wallet

    We have all heard the adages about being proactive: “The early bird gets the worm” and “Never do tomorrow what you can do today.” These principles apply to nearly every facet of life, whether it’s our job performance, healthcare, financial planning, or in this case, lake and pond management. It’s no secret that taking care of our environment is important, but it goes beyond that. Science suggests that the preservation of our water resources is a key factor in our health and happiness; memorable experiences and time spent around the water lead to a greater sense of peace and connection to the world around us.

    Much like the human body, when a lake or pond is ‘young,’ it typically requires less effort and funds to keep it healthy and functional. But a lifetime of neglect can lead to premature aging and serious imbalances. Without ongoing management, waterbodies become inundated with organic matter, sediment, debris, and other pollutants that cause aesthetic, ecological, and functional problems. These can arise in a multitude of ways, including recurring water quality issues, nuisance weeds and algae, and foul odors—and even scarier issues may lurk unnoticed beneath the water for many years before they manifest. When they do finally appear, it is generally a sign that the waterbody requires significant intervention.

    What are signs of an unhealthy waterbody?

    • Disregarded plant matter and debris can clog and damage stormwater equipment and increase the risk of dangerous flooding
    • Harmful Algal Blooms can create toxins that may harm aquatic animals, pets, and humans
    • Invasive plants like Phragmites can take years of dedicated treatments to successfully eradicate
    • Invasive animal species like armored catfish, bufo toads, and quagga mussels can out-compete beneficial native species and pose significant challenges and costs to remove
    • Shoreline instability can cause expedited lake and pond “aging” and endanger others
    • The accumulation of muck and sediment over time can reduce depth and volume – with costly and invasive dredging oftentimes being the only solution

    Solutions to Restore Lakes with Poor Water Quality

    The number of tools necessary to restore an imbalanced lake or pond depends on many factors, and the benefits can be fleeting if not done consistently. That’s why year-round maintenance is key. To begin developing an annual management program, aquatic specialists conduct preliminary assessments that examine the biological, physical, and chemical properties of the water. Detailed visual inspections and baseline water quality tests provide valuable insights into the overall health of the waterbody and establish an important foundation of data to inform future management decisions.

    water-quality-assessments-community-lake

    Building A Custom Water Management Program

    Once preliminary assessments are completed, a customized management program can be designed. The most effective programs lean on cutting-edge technologies, comprehensive data collection, routine laboratory analysis, and premium services like nutrient remediationalgae IDbiological augmentationoxygenation, and erosion control solutions that help stakeholders achieve the trifecta of health, functionality, and beauty. And these solutions are underscored by the guidance and expertise of scientists who specialize in freshwater management.

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    Pond Management Strategy for Smaller Budgets

    Lakes and ponds exhibiting more mild issues or those with budgetary limitations can still be supported by the basics like periodic visual monitoring, nuisance vegetation controlbuffer management, and decorative pond dye. These ongoing efforts help lay the groundwork until more advanced solutions come into the picture. Consulting with your lake and pond management professional can help you make the most appropriate decision for your property and your wallet.

    Don’t Wait to Manage Your Water… Be Proactive!

    Lakes and ponds are an investment, but the upfront costs to kickstart your management program will help to reduce expenses that are often much larger and more concerning down the road. While every aquatic ecosystem has different needs, they all benefit most from comprehensive maintenance strategies supported by the most effective and sustainable technologies available to us. Like most other facets of life, when it comes to lake and pond management “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

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    HOA Parking Lot Flooded?    Now is the time to give  Allstate Resource Management a call!

    HOA Parking Lot Flooded? Now is the time to give Allstate Resource Management a call!

    Our schedule is filling up fast for storm drain cleanings, the rain that occurred this weekend was a preview of what most summers will look like for your HOA community.

    Contact us to talk to a Stormwater Specialist today!

    Contact us at 954-382-9766 or info@allstatemanagement.com

    “Why does our HOA need a lake management company?”
    Sometimes, aquatic management is viewed as a frivolous or unnecessary expense for a community. “My lake looks fine, why should I pay to have someone take care of it?”
    Most people that live on lakes also see them differently than someone who maintains them. The difference is homeowners tend to look “at” the water, where as waterway managers look “in” the water. Too often people put off lake maintenance until they see a problem and weed populations have already become established.
    As a property owner or property manager, it’s valuable to have a company that will respond to these unexpected outbreaks. Every lake matures differently, and it takes a combination of experience and expertise to maintain a healthy balance as changes occur.
    Allstate Resource Management’s staff is always there to answer your questions and works to ensure excellent results in any lake management situation.

     

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    “Stormwater Pond Management: Aren’t Nutrients in the Water Good?” by Solitude Lake Management.

    “Stormwater Pond Management: Aren’t Nutrients in the Water Good?” by Solitude Lake Management.

    This Article provides valuable insights into the role of nutrients in ponds and lakes, explaining how excess nutrients contribute to water quality challenges like algae and weed growth.

    We explore practical, eco-friendly solutions for addressing these issues, including nutrient remediation, beneficial bacteria, and hydro-raking, as well as preventative strategies like buffer management and shoreline restoration.

    This article is designed to help communities implement sustainable practices that preserve the health and beauty of their waterbodies for years to come.

    Stormwater Pond Management: Aren’t Nutrients in the Water Good?
    SOLitude Lake Management 

     

    Nutrients are a cornerstone of healthy freshwater ecosystems, playing a vital role in fostering fish, micro-organisms, and native plants. However, perhaps due to the word’s positive connotation, property managers are often surprised to learn that abundant nutrients aren’t always good. Just as ingesting too many vitamins can make you sick, an excess of nutrients can cause harmful water quality imbalances. Like many things in life, moderation is key. 

    Over time, lakes and ponds become increasingly enriched with nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that create fertile conditions for excessive vegetation and algae growth. When it eventually dies and decays, it releases nutrients that fuel new growth. Without intervention, the cycle will perpetually continue until the waterbody fills in with decayed material. This process is called eutrophication—or, put simply, aging. 

    While nutrient enrichment is normal and may occur naturally over hundreds of years, human activities accelerate the aging process and can reduce a pond’s lifespan to just a few decades. Once a pond is filled in, it can only be restored by dredging out all accumulated materials. Dredging is one of the biggest expenses a community will ever face, but by understanding why nutrient enrichment occurs and how to help slow the process, communities can prolong the need for costly dredging for as long as possible.   

    During storms, rainwater picks up nutrient-rich materials and substances as it flows over sidewalks, roadways, agricultural land, construction sites, and other developed areas. The water is diverted to stormwater ponds that are specially designed to prevent flooding and filter out pollutants before the water is released downstream. Most urban ponds, particularly in homeowners communities, are man-made for this purpose. 

     

    Some of these nutrient-rich materials include:

    • Lawn and garden fertilizers
    • Grass clippings
    • Leaves and yard debris 
    • Eroded sediment
    • Pet waste 
    • Septic system runoff 
    • Trash 

     

    Unsightly weeds, slimy mats of algae, and toxic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are common signs that your waterbody is over-enriched with nutrients. If water quality tests reveal that nutrients are above desirable thresholds, communities have several solutions at their disposal to help manage them. 

    First and foremost, property managers can implement impactful changes such as installing more trash bins and pet waste stations around a community, moving designated dog parks further from the vicinity of their ponds, and instructing landscapers to reduce fertilizer use and properly bag grass clippings and lawn debris. Every individual living or working in the vicinity of a waterbody influences its health and these small changes can have a significant cumulative effect over time. 

     

    Incorporating these best practices can help amplify the benefits of more impactful solutions: 

     

    Nutrient Remediation

    This involves applying eco-friendly products that bind with or “deactivate” excess phosphorus in the water column and in the bottom sediments so it is no longer available for uptake by weeds and algae. Subsequent water quality testing will allow experts to assess if nutrient levels have been restored to an ideal range. 

     

    Biological Bacteria

    Biological bacteria play a central role in decomposing plant debris and organic materials. Comparable to probiotics for your waterbody, supplementing these beneficial bacteria can help make the decomposition process more efficient and inhibit the accumulation of nutrient-rich muck. These bacteria need dissolved oxygen to thrive, so installing a fountain, surface aerator, or submersed aerator can enhance their activity.

     

    Mechanical Hydro-Raking

    In cases of significant muck and debris build-up, experts can use a floating barge equipped with a specialized clamshell bucket to physically remove hundreds to thousands of pounds of nutrient-rich material. This can also help restore several feet of depth back to the pond, limiting flood risks.

    These strategies are highly effective at targeting excess phosphorus in the waterbody, but it’s also imperative to prevent additional nutrients from invading the ecosystem. Such efforts start outside of the water and can involve residents, landscapers, and other employees. 

     

    Buffer Management

    While many communities desire an unobstructed view around their ponds, it’s favorable to maintain a healthy buffer of beneficial vegetation around the perimeter. These plants act as a protective barrier, filtering rainwater and capturing nutrients and debris before they enter the pond. A well-curated buffer should incorporate native plants that densely extend 3-5 feet from the shoreline and receive regular trimming and maintenance.

     

    Shoreline Restoration

    Pond erosion is not just an eyesore and safety hazard, it allows sediment to build-up in shallow areas around the shoreline. Tree roots, pipes, and other buried equipment can become exposed as sediment deteriorates. Experts can employ bioengineering techniques that physically reshape and anchor the shoreline in place, preventing future collapse and erosion. Sod or vegetative buffers can be installed directly on top to blend in harmoniously with community landscaping. 

     

    Nutrients play a major role in the health and appearance of community water bodies, but they are only part of the equation. Maintaining balanced levels of pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, and salinity is essential for clean, weed- and algae-free water. An ongoing management program tailored to your community’s specific goals and budget is one of the most effective ways to ensure your waterbody remains healthy, beautiful, and functional for years to come.

     


    As part of our commitment to professional development, we offer Continuing Education courses, each worth 1 credit hour. If your company/organization is interested, please feel free to contact me for further details.

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    Extended: Get 10% Off A Fountain or Aerator from Solitude Lake Management.

    Extended: Get 10% Off A Fountain or Aerator from Solitude Lake Management.

     

     

     

     

     

    Great news! Our year-end savings have been extended. This is your sign to invest in your lake or pond’s health with a new fountain or aerator!

    Get 10% OFF a new fountain, surface aerator, submersed aerator, or de-icer*! This discount applies to the new system PLUS labor and installation.

    This special offer ends on Friday, November 15th. Claim your savings now!

    LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SAVINGS

     

    * This offer applies to all fountains, surface aerators, submersed aerators, and de-icers available for purchase through SOLitude Lake Management and is valid for all contracts signed between 10/08/24 and 11/15/24. All fountains, surface aerators, and submersed aerators must be paid for by 12/31/24.

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    Get the Best Subsea Solution Services in the Region with the Highest Levels of Customer Satisfaction

    Get the Best Subsea Solution Services in the Region with the Highest Levels of Customer Satisfaction

    International Subsea Services has provided qualified and experienced to its clients. International Subsea Services maintains a detailed and extensive network database of industry professionals to provide support where needed. International Subsea Services is an approved installation contractor for Dredge Sox Erosion Solutions and Marine Construction Specialist providing Minor upgrades to a full design build, International Subsea services is the turnkey solution for all of your waterfront projects along the Gulf Coast and Caribbean Basin.

     

    We are an Independent Contractors of Lake, Pond, and Wetland Installation & Maintenance

    The installation and maintenance of lakes, ponds, and wetlands while taking care of cleanliness in your environment are very important these days. The restoration of living shorelines is a creative and productive technique to save water areas from erosion. Erosion is a natural process in which forces of nature such as water or wind crumble and transfer earthen materials to several other areas. The restoration technique actually includes the installation of wetlands plants, grasses, a thick sheet of algae, shrubs, and trees at areas of marine boundaries. This technique involves experts and the careful placement of bio-engineering materials to protect nearby areas of vegetables and soil.

    Get the Best Subsea Solution Services in the Region with the Highest Levels of Customer Satisfaction

    • Affordable shorelines and hillside restoration with high-quality materials.
    • Stabilization and installation of water banks.
    • We use good quality products and materials to prevent bank erosion.
    • Perfect maintenance of hand dredging and cleaning of ponds and lakes with our latest equipment.
    • We monitor inspection services for mitigation related to every project.
    • Our leadership and disciplined team give proper management of projects easy and careful management.
    • We also do onsite demolition for pools and homes and remove all the useless items from the place.
    • Land clearing services are also provided for preparing land for the next innovative project.
    • For cutting, grinding, and clearing commercial and residential areas, our subsea solution services company uses forestry mulching machines.
    • Hotshot hauling service for urgent and important shipments of products is also provided by our company.

     

    HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?

    Request a free estimate today to see what International Subsea can do for you!

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    Preparing Stormwater Ponds for Hurricanes

    Preparing Stormwater Ponds for Hurricanes

    4 Hurricane Preparedness Tips for Your Stormwater Pond

    According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), approximately 40% of the American population lives within coastal areas, despite the fact that they only make up 10% of the country’s total landmass. As anyone who lives on the coast can tell you, populations have continued to increase in recent years. It is unsurprising then that a large concern of many homeowners in these areas is the threat of hurricanes and the associated damage.

    Most people in coastal areas typically live on or near man-made stormwater systems, which use inlet and outlet structures, forebays, safety benches, and other specialized components to collect runoff during storms. However, these sites can become a concern any time a hurricane approaches due to the increased risk of equipment damage and catastrophic flooding. The water in stormwater ponds is likely to rise much higher than normal during these events, so it’s important that community associations, municipalities, and private property owners take steps to ensure their waterbodies are in proper working condition during hurricane season.

     


    pond maintenance stormwater pond management regulatory compliance

    1. Remove Debris

    Yard debris should be removed from around the site and streets should be cleaned of trash, since this will be flushed into the ponds via storm drains. Even a single plastic bag or soda bottle could effectively block a control structure and keep water from flowing off-site. Installing debris guards on control structures can be an effective preventative method, as well as the periodic flushing of trash from street drains.

     

    Midwest-scaled-lake-and-pond-management-maintenance-and-installation-meet-the-midwest-team

    2. Secure Equipment

    Many lakes and ponds have fish feedersfountainssubmersed aeration systems, and other electrically run equipment. Unless it is absolutely necessary (like a pump), it is important to shut off and even remove this equipment from the premises. This minimizes the chance of damage to the equipment during a storm, especially if there are any electrical fluctuations. Another option is to install an anemometer to your fountain control box, which will shut off fountain power if wind speeds rise to dangerous levels.

     

    Submersed aerators

    3. Introduce Aeration

    A common phenomenon, both during and after a hurricane, is a fish kill. These events are often caused by the introduction of brackish (high salinity) water or an increase in turbidity (when large amounts of sediment are washed into a waterway). Many freshwater fish species near the coast can tolerate slight changes in water quality if they become acclimated to it, but rapid changes can lead to suffocation.

    Fish kills can also be caused by stratification. This means the water is separated by distinct layers of temperatures and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. The merging of these layers during hazardous storms can cause a fish kill – sometimes within a few hours or days. If it does occur during the storm, once it’s safe to do so it is important to remove as much of the dead fish as possible to prevent poor odors, decay, and the subsequent nutrient pollution that fuels nuisance plant and algae growth. But, if a fish kill has not yet occurred, it may be possible to reverse some of the negative impacts of the storm. Introducing a fountain or a submersed aeration system can help rebalance the water column by gradually circulating and increasing DO. Better yet, Oxygen Saturation Technology can be utilized to rapidly restore DO in the specific water layers that need it without creating thermal stratification.

     

    stormwater inspection lake and pond management - john phelps DE - community hoa - 7

    4. Meet with a Professional

    One of the best proactive strategies is a professional stormwater inspection. During these inspections, aquatic management professionals can identify shoreline erosion, clogging or damage to concrete inlets and outlets, problematic invasive species infestations, and any other problems within the infrastructure that may lead to complications during high-water events. Sometimes this inspection can lead to recommendations such as flushing storm drains, repairing cracking hardscape, or clearing vegetation within the wetlands behind outflow structures to facilitate the flow of water from a pond.

     

    Prep Your Stormwater Pond Ahead of the Next Hurricane

    Hurricanes are stressful events, even without having to worry about stormwater ponds in your coastal community. Understanding the potential areas of concern and creating an action plan ahead of time can help alleviate this stress. A few precautionary measures will help prepare your freshwater systems and will help minimize the chance of flooding, infrastructure damage, and fish kills during this dangerous yet inevitable weather event.

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