Become a Member: JOIN SFPMA TODAY   LogIn / Register: LOGIN/REGISTER

SFPMA Industry Articles | news, legal updates, events & education! 

Find Blog Articles for Florida’s Condo, HOA and the Management Industry. 

Lake Management: “Why does our HOA need a lake management company?” -Allstate Resource Management

Lake Management: “Why does our HOA need a lake management company?” -Allstate Resource Management

  • Posted: Sep 06, 2022
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Lake Management: “Why does our HOA need a lake management company?” -Allstate Resource Management
“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?” Unfortunately, that assessment is rarely made taking into account the whole water body.
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. Long term management at that point becomes more expensive and time consuming, with total elimination of the problem almost impossible.
An important fact that many overlook is that the lakes on their property serve another purpose other than a nice view. They are actually man made stormwater retention areas . When communities are built, the lakes are carefully designed to hold a certain amount of stormwater. Water bodies filled with weeds no longer have the correct capacity, potentially causing neighborhood flooding during storms. Algae is another constant nuisance in South Florida lakes. Because of our warm waters and long sunny seasons, algae can spread very rapidly and unpredictably.
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.
Contact us today on how we can help your community lake!
Direct: 954-382-9766
Tags: , ,
Shoreline & Erosion Control Management – SOLitude Lake Management

Shoreline & Erosion Control Management – SOLitude Lake Management

  • Posted: Sep 06, 2022
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Shoreline & Erosion Control Management – SOLitude Lake Management

Enhance Your Shoreline and Repair Erosion Damage with Sustainable Solutions

Shoreline management should never be overlooked. It is one of the most important aspects of a healthy lake or pond. Proactive buffer and littoral zone management not only helps increase the aesthetics of your lake or pond, but it helps protect your waterbody from the harsh effects of erosion and prevents excess nutrients from entering the water column. If erosion damage has become too severe, erosion repair solutions can be implemented to help restore the shoreline and prevent future damage.

The Benefits Behind Vegetative Buffers and Littoral Zones

Many water quality issues are caused by or intensified by factors that begin outside of a waterbody. That is why it is crucial to cultivate a beneficial vegetative buffer and a littoral zone using native sedges, grasses, and flowering species to filter excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen from the water column. Allowing the beneficial plants to take root will also add to the integrity of your shoreline.

Before, Golf Course Shoreline Restoration

Erosion Repair Technologies

If your shoreline has experienced the effects of erosion like vegetation loss or uneven and unstable banks, restoration efforts should be considered before attempting to establish plants around a pond or lake. With the latest erosion control technologies, you can repair erosion wear and tear and establish a stable, natural shoreline that will halt erosion and protect your waterbody from future damage.

Discover Sustainable Solutions for Shoreline Management & Erosion Repair – Watch the Video

Tags:
Lake Management: Lake Turnover and Fish Kills The science behind it….

Lake Management: Lake Turnover and Fish Kills The science behind it….

  • Posted: Aug 18, 2022
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Lake Management: Lake Turnover and Fish Kills The science behind it….

Lake Turnover and Fish Kills

The science behind it….

Lake turnovers generally occur in the fall but can sometimes occur in the summer. During the hot weather, the surface water of a lake warms much faster than deeper water. This results in a temporary layering effect, with warm water on top and cool water underneath. Scientists refer to this as stratification.
Because the top layer has constant access to the atmosphere, it tends to have more oxygen than the bottom layer-even though it’s warmer. If a heavy wind or cold rain should occur during these conditions, the stratification may be broken, causing the two layers to mix. Once this happens the mixing action can result in low dissolved oxygen levels throughout the water column, and can potentially cause a fish kill.
Tags: , ,
Understanding Your Lake “How long will it take to clean up my lake?”

Understanding Your Lake “How long will it take to clean up my lake?”

  • Posted: Aug 16, 2022
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Understanding Your Lake “How long will it take to clean up my lake?”

Understanding Your Lake

“How long will it take to clean up my lake?”

How-Long-to-Clean-Lake

This is one of the most often asked questions applicators get and is also one of the trickier ones to
answer. The hard part of this question is that there are so many variables to take into account when
trying to answer it. Are we dealing with one kind of weed or multiple ones?

Different ones may require separate treatments. Some of those treatments may not be compatible with each other which means they must be done on different visits. How bad is the problem? If the entire lake is affected,
we need to treat it in portions over time so we don’t deplete the dissolved oxygen.

Which herbicide is effective on the weeds you have? Some work quickly, where as others take time to do the job, and
not all herbicides work on every kind of plant. What is the weather? Forecasted rains can wash off or
dilute treatments, forcing work to be postponed.

These are just a few of the things we need to consider before we can even start to give a client an answer and that is just the beginning of the process. The EPA approved products we apply to lakes do not make the weeds magically disappear.

Once they begin to die, most will float to the surface and collect in mats. Then water chemistry,
weather, and lake circulation controls how long it takes for them to break down and sink. Sometimes
lakes will require follow up treatments to take care of re-growth, or dense pockets of plants.

An experienced lake management company can give you an estimate of how long it will take to start to
see results but a definite answer can be difficult. Understand that there is a customized plan being
implemented and that your manager is working to remedy the problem. If you ever have any specific
questions about your lake and its care, the staff at Allstate Resource Management is here to answer
them and provide you with the information you need.


Author: Stephen Montgomery, Senior Biologist


Allstate Resource Management has over 25 years of experience in maintaining the health of lakes, ponds, wetlands, and stormwater systems. We have continued since our inception to be the leader in resource management.

Tags: ,
Achieve A Weed-Free Lake – Check out our tips to learn how to best manage weeds in your lake.

Achieve A Weed-Free Lake – Check out our tips to learn how to best manage weeds in your lake.

  • Posted: Aug 08, 2022
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Achieve A Weed-Free Lake – Check out our tips to learn how to best manage weeds in your lake.

Achieve A Weed-Free Lake

The way aquatic weeds are managed depends on your goals. Check out our tips to learn how to best manage weeds in your lake.

Aquatic Weeds? Effective Management Will Depend on Your Unique Ecosystem

Lakes and ponds are home to many unique and beneficial species, but without proper management aquatic weeds and plant life can become a nuisance by destroying native habitat, clogging stormwater pipes, detracting from aesthetics and causing other problems in the ecosystem. Identifying the best management approach can be another challenge. Aquatic weed control is a nuanced problem, and the best management methods are usually influenced by many different variables.

aquatic weed management - pond weed control - Biology - Rake Toss Dense Hydrilla

Which Lake Weed Species Are You Dealing With?

Rather than making one-size-fits-all management recommendations, reputable lake and pond management professionals generally conduct an official aquatic weed survey before designing a customized management program. An onsite evaluation is the most direct, effective way to identify important physical factors within the waterbody, determine potential problem species, and consider the management goals of the property owner or community. Each of these variables is equally important in its own regard and requires a unique custom approach and management plan to effectively address.

duckweed-invasive-plant-management

Identifying Aquatic Weed Species

To safely eradicate targeted pond weeds, lake managers typically begin by properly identifying the invasive species that are present and taking careful note of their physical characteristics. Proper identification removes the risk of using an ineffective control measure—a mistake that can result in a large loss of time and resources. Plant identification is sometimes a difficult task, requiring dichotomous keys, stereoscopes, and even lab tests. Once the species has been properly identified, we will consider its physical requirements in order to develop a multi-faceted management approach.

mechanical-hydro-rake-aquatic-weed-control

Solutions for Managing Aquatic Weed Growth

Sustainable control of a problem species is the primary objective when developing a management plan. Lake management professionals utilize many products and services to eradicate undesirable invasive species. Some ponds can simply be managed through targeted hand pulling or biological control measures such as stocking triploid grass carp. Other situations may call for extensive vegetation and sediment removal through hydro-raking or dredging. More established infestations may require the use of a new “reduced risk” herbicide alternative called ProcellaCOR, which is designed to only impact target species. Working with a professional who understands these options and how to best use them is the most efficient way to ensure the safe, thorough resolution of your aquatic weed issue.

enjoying-beautiful-water

Helping You Reach Your Goals

While environmental balance and safety are of utmost importance, stakeholder goals are also at the forefront of our consideration when designing management programs. Just as no two waterbodies are the same, neither are stakeholder desires. A fishing and duck hunting pond owner will almost certainly have vastly different goals than a homeowners’ association with a five-acre pond within city limits. Each group has its own idea of what a perfect lake looks like. This is where communication becomes the key to reaching our client’s goals. We take the time to ask the right questions and allow the client to explain their vision. We communicate with our clients throughout the restoration process and beyond to ensure the health, beauty, and function of their waterbody continues to exceed their goals.

Achieve the Waterbody You Desire

Water resources with multiple stakeholders present their own challenges. However, our team is experienced in communicating with multiple stakeholders to develop goals and strategies tailored to the interests of the entire group. Programs are designed to correct existing problems, improve the quality of the lake or pond to fit the group’s desires, and provide ongoing education. Community education within these settings is especially important, as each small action by individuals has a cumulative effect on the aquatic system as a whole.

So, ultimately, the management approach we select depends on many different factors. We can solve your pond weed issues, but what are you looking to get out of your lake? Is it a family fishing pond for the grandkids to enjoy, or a lake serving 500 homeowners that enjoy everything from waterskiing to bass fishing? Once the right questions are asked, then we can then recommend an appropriate aquatic weed control plan and begin helping your waterbody reach its full potential.

 

Tags:
Webinar: 3 Aeration Solutions for Creating A Beautiful Lake

Webinar: 3 Aeration Solutions for Creating A Beautiful Lake

  • Posted: Jul 26, 2022
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Webinar: 3 Aeration Solutions for Creating A Beautiful Lake

3 Aeration Solutions for Creating A Beautiful Lake

Register for our upcoming webinar to discover how you can create a beautiful lake with aeration.

July 28, 2022 3:00 pm EDT

REGISTER NOW FOR FREE

Set Your Waterbody Up for Success with Aeration

We all need clean, healthy water to survive, but the benefits of water go beyond our biological needs. Science shows that simply being around beautiful water can help improve our well-being, allowing us to create memories with loved ones. Achieving beautiful, clean water is hard, but sustainable solutions like aeration can make it possible.

Join our experts on our upcoming webinar as they discuss why balanced water is so important and how you can achieve beautiful lakes and ponds by utilizing three beneficial aeration systems. Don’t miss the Q&A where our experts answer your questions about aeration. Registration is free and open to the public. Register now before spots fill up!

Tags:
How improper landscape fertilization could be causing lake algae!

How improper landscape fertilization could be causing lake algae!

  • Posted: Jul 14, 2022
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on How improper landscape fertilization could be causing lake algae!
Ring of Responsibility
How improper landscape fertilization could be causing lake algae!
  Tips and Tricks for Homeowners Associations:
  • ONLY FERTILIZE WHEN YOUR YARD NEEDS IT: If your yard already has the right amount of nutrients present, your lawn won’t soak up any of the extra that you have added. All of those extra nutrients will be washed down the drain. If your lawn appears yellow during the summer months, apply an iron product to restore the green. Extra fertilizer will NOT make your lawn greener.
  • NEVER FERTILIZE BEFORE A RAIN STORM: If heavy rain is in the 2-day forecast, wait to fertilize. Any more than 1/4 inch of water may wash away the work you just did.
  • USE A 15-FOOT “FERTILIZER-FREE” ZONE AROUND WATER: When spreading fertilizer, stay at least 15 feet away from the water’s edge and use a deflector shield on your fertilizer spreader.
  • CLEAN UP SPILLS: If fertilizer ends up on a paved surface such as a driveway, sidewalk or street, sweep it back onto your lawn or collect it for later use.
Contact us today on how we can help LOVE your lake!
Direct: 954-382-9766 or info@allstatemanagement.com
Allstate Resource Management | 6900 S.W. 21st Court, Bldg. 9Davie, FL 33404
Tags: , ,
Free Webinar: 3 Aeration Solutions for Creating A Beautiful Lake

Free Webinar: 3 Aeration Solutions for Creating A Beautiful Lake

  • Posted: Jul 14, 2022
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Free Webinar: 3 Aeration Solutions for Creating A Beautiful Lake

FREE WEBINAR:

3 Aeration Solutions for Creating
A Beautiful Lake

 

JULY 28 @ 3:00 PM (EDT)

There may be several underlying reasons your lake looks bad, but one common cause of ugly water is low oxygen levels.

During the webinar, our aeration experts will explain how fountains, surface aerators, and submersed aerators can help create beautiful water that you can appreciate. Spots are limited!

Can’t make the live webinar? Register anyway and you will receive a recording.

Carl Abinuman

Aeration Expert,
Aquatic Specialist II

Brendan McCarthy

Aeration Expert,
Business Development Consultant

Tags: , ,
ALGAE BLOOMS: DID YOU KNOW?

ALGAE BLOOMS: DID YOU KNOW?

ALGAE BLOOMS: DID YOU KNOW?
The climate in Florida is wonderful in many ways, but the year round warm weather and heat in the summer can increase algae blooms.
1. Lawn fertilizers are a big contributor to algae blooms. Leave at least a 10 foot buffer when dispensing fertilizer near a waterway. Fertilizer in the street will wash into the storm drains and all storm drains lead to the waterways.
2. Never blow or dispose of trash and lawn clippings into streets, storm drains, or waterways. They are loaded with nutrients and as they decay, they feed the algae blooms. All storm drains lead to the waterways.
3. Algae blooms may affect oxygen levels and block light which will harm the aquatic environment.
Allstate Resource Management has 25 + years helping South Florida homeowners associations with waterway management.
Contact us today at 954-382-9766 or info@allstatemanagment.com
for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.
Allstate Resource Management | 6900 S.W. 21st Court, Bldg. 9Davie, FL 33404
Tags:
“Why does our HOA need a lake management company?”

“Why does our HOA need a lake management company?”

“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?” Unfortunately, that assessment is rarely made taking into account the whole water body.
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. Long term management at that point becomes more expensive and time consuming, with total elimination of the problem almost impossible.
An important fact that many overlook is that the lakes on their property serve another purpose other than a nice view. They are actually man made stormwater retention areas . When communities are built, the lakes are carefully designed to hold a certain amount of stormwater. Water bodies filled with weeds no longer have the correct capacity, potentially causing neighborhood flooding during storms. Algae is another constant nuisance in South Florida lakes. Because of our warm waters and long sunny seasons, algae can spread very rapidly and unpredictably.
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. 
Contact us today on how we can help your community lake!
Direct: 954-382-9766

 

Tags: ,
Discover how to proactively manage your water…Stay Ahead of Algae & Enjoy Beautiful Water

Discover how to proactively manage your water…Stay Ahead of Algae & Enjoy Beautiful Water

  • Posted: Jun 14, 2022
  • By:
  • Comments: Comments Off on Discover how to proactively manage your water…Stay Ahead of Algae & Enjoy Beautiful Water

Neglecting to stay on top of water quality issues may require reactive management approaches like herbicides and algaecides. Though these tools are effective, they are only treating the symptom of a bigger issue…

Proactive, natural solutions like aeration or beneficial buffers can help balance water quality, giving you the beautiful, clean water you deserve to enjoy.

Managing Nuisance Pond Algae Without Algaecides

Written by Industry Expert Gavin Ferris, Ecologist 

I frequently use herbicides and algaecides in my line of work. Having attended college and graduate school to be an Ecologist, it isn’t something I thought I would do very often, but with the frequency of environmental problems that involve invasive flora, nuisance aquatic weeds and potentially-toxic algae, EPA-registered herbicides and algaecides are an invaluable tool. There are, however, times when their use is impractical, imprudent, illegal or impossible. Maybe the HOA or property manager prefers that herbicides not be applied to nearby waters. Perhaps the regulatory bodies in a given area aren’t permitting the use of certain products. Whatever the reason, sometimes this option just isn’t on the table. But how do we effectively manage algae and aquatic weeds without herbicides and algaecides?

I employ a simple concept that I call the algae triangle, though it works for all forms of vegetation.If you had the same fire safety lessons in elementary school, you may remember the Fire Triangle, which is based on the idea that three elements are necessary for fire: fuel, oxygen and heat. If you have enough of all three, you’ll ignite a fire. Eliminate any corner of the triangle, and the fire goes out. Similarly, if you have water, sunlight and nutrients, you’ll likely develop some form of algae or vegetation. If the triangle becomes too imbalanced, the resulting plant species can become a nuisance.

Obviously, in the lake management and pond maintenance field, we aren’t removing water from the equation, so establishing balance between each factor is the focus. Putting this concept into practice means understanding how sunlight and nutrients affect the ecology of the waterbody in question. Communities have several natural options to help mitigate against algae and aquatic weed growth, including limiting sunlight, improving water circulation and reducing excess nutrients.

How Algae and Nuisance Weeds Thrive

If a stormwater pond receives full sunlight during the growing season, this directly impacts plants and algae by increasing water temperatures and providing the light necessary for photosynthesis. To prevent sunlight from penetrating the water column and stimulating the growth of deep submersed plants and benthic algae, water levels can be increased. Dredging is an effective strategy to increase the depth of a lake or pond, however, it is often the costliest project a community will ever face. Instead, proactive hydro-raking can help maintain existing water depths and prolong the need for dredging by removing unconsolidated muck and organic debris from the bottom of a lake or stormwater pond. Likewise, blue or black pond dye can be applied to reflect sunlight. Pond dye can enhance the aesthetics of a waterbody while simultaneously absorbing sunlight before it can penetrate the waterbody and fuel excessive plant growth.

In addition to thriving in water that receives lots of sunlight, algae and nuisance weeds also flourish in stratified waterbodies. A stagnant, sun-warmed layer floating on top of colder, deeper water can serve as a perfect habitat for undesirable species. Circulation with a diffused aeration system breaks this stratification and allows the water to mix more evenly, resulting in more consistent temperatures and less warming in the sunlit portions of the water. Aeration is also effective at improving the health of an aquatic ecosystem in a number of other ways, such as preventing oxygen depletion and fish kills, improving beneficial bacteria levels, and preventing the release of excess nutrients from the sediment. This brings us to the real meat and potatoes of preventative maintenance: nutrient management.

Managing Excess Nutrients in the Water

Phosphorus is the most important nutrient contributing to excess vegetation in lakes and stormwater ponds, and it can enter the water column in runoff containing lawn fertilizers, grass clippings, pet droppings, and waste from faulty septic systems. A number of nutrient reduction strategies should be considered if water quality tests reveal nutrient levels are too high. A professional lake manager can apply beneficial bacteria to the waterbody to utilize nutrients that would otherwise be available for plant and algae growth. Water quality can also be amended by using products that bind with phosphorus to keep it from becoming fuel for nuisance plants. Additionally, strategically planting desirable buffer vegetation around the shore of the waterbody can help to intercept phosphorus before it enters the water and is absorbed by unwanted vegetation. Your lake manager can help identify buffer plants that are native to your region.

When it comes to quickly and effectively managing nuisance aquatic weeds and algae, EPA-registered herbicides and algaecides can be very useful, and in many instances, they are the safest and most practical option available. Nonetheless, natural and proactive pond maintenance techniques can be tremendously effective at improving the health and appearance of almost any community waterbody before a problem occurs, which is why it’s important for homeowners associations and property managers to consider sustainable and holistic plant management methods whenever possible.

SCHEDULE AN ASSESSMENT

SOLitude Lake Management
Josh McGarry
Business Development Consultant
SOLitude Lake Management
Info@solitudelake.com
(888)480-5253

 

Tags: ,