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We are grateful for our dedicated colleagues, vendor partners, and loyal clients who have a passion for preserving aquatic resources.
AQUATIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 1 CEU – COURSE NUMBER: 9628717 Zoom Lunch and Learn Free CEUs for: Property Managers Board Members Tuesday, November 16, 2021 11:30am-12:30pm Ever wondered what is going on with your lake? This course will help you better understand lakes on property, native plants, fish stocking, stormwater maintenance, erosion issues, and more!
Nuisance or invasive plants are one of the biggest issues lake and pond owners or managers face. When introduced into a non-native environment, invasive aquatic weeds can take over an ecosystem and even out-compete native beneficial plants. There are various types of invasive aquatic weeds and it’s important to know which species is terrorizing your waterbody so the best management approach can be determined.
Watch our free webinar recording to discover the top solutions and technologies for managing aquatic weeds. From drone technology and highly targeted herbicides to hydro-raking and mechanical harvesting, our aquatic weed experts discussed how to control and prevent the future growth of nuisance and invasive plants with these solutions. Watch to hear what our experts had to say during the Q&A.
Watch the recording today!
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New solutions are enhancing how we can help solve a variety of problems lake and pond owners face. The innovative tool, Weeds Away, helps keep nuisance and invasive aquatic weeds and muck accumulation away from your dock and swimming areas. Learn more about this exciting technology that offers a natural solution for aquatic weed control.
SOLitude Lake Management is privileged to offer a variety of enhanced tools and services to stakeholders nationwide through our new vendor partner, Bearon Aquatics. This partnership supports SOLitude’s long-held mission to create beautiful, well-balanced waterbodies that promote good health, happiness, and meaningful experiences around the water.
We are excited to announce Weeds Away, a “non-chemical” system used to manage nuisance aquatic plants, filamentous and planktonic algae, muck, silt, and suspended debris in stagnant areas. This energy-efficient blower system creates a continuous water current that can be used to directly dispel undesirable materials in target spaces such as docks, piers, marinas, and swimming holes. Likewise, this system creates surface turbulence that integrates dissolved oxygen into the water column for increased water quality benefits.
Weeds Away is strategically designed to make maintenance and functionality as effortless and energy-efficient as possible. Stakeholders can choose from two different sizes depending on their goals and budget. The dock-mounted units are corrosion-resistant and adjustable for custom depth, direction, and water current angling for maximum thrust and performance. And each comes with a 2-year warranty. Weeds Away is an excellent choice for waterbodies throughout the country.
Surface Aerators & Floating FountainsBeyond Weeds Away and Ice-Eater, there are many cost-effective options available for surface aeration. Surface aerators and floating fountains are used to increase dissolved oxygen levels by creating circulation and turbulence. All Bearon products require little or no assembly and can be installed by one person, if necessary.
Bearon’s Flo-Gen and Flo-Ration surface aerators can be used to circulate water by creating a horizontal flow. By improving surface water quality and movement, these aerators, in turn, prevent mosquito populations, fish kills, algae blooms, and unwanted bacteria – particularly in marinas and narrow canals. They can also help enhance activities like winter fishing and duck hunting by rocking decoys and preventing ice formation.
Bearon also offers several dynamic Olympus fountain systems with a variety of features, spray patterns, and lighting accents. Fountains function differently than surface aerators as they vertically spray water into the air. Each system works differently to achieve goals for waterbodies of any depth and size, whether that’s reducing power consumption, preventing pond scum and bad odors, lowering operating costs, or adding a touch of elegance to a community pond.
Among these new offerings, SOLitude has a full toolbox of exciting technologies and innovations that continue to transform the lake and pond management industry. Professional drones, Oxygen Saturation Technology (OST), and many other solutions are available to help you achieve your waterbody goals. Speak with the experts to learn more!
At SOLitude Lake Management we’re dedicated to making water a more healthy and beautiful part of our environment and our world. In that pursuit we offer sustainable, comprehensive lake and pond management solutions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjgdc8s7FFU&t=3s
by SOLitude Lake Management
Lakes and ponds are multifaceted ecosystems with a wide array of uses, benefits, and challenges. If you oversee waterbodies for a community association, golf course, municipality, or any other entity, you know that many factors must be examined when making decisions about the property. As the number of stakeholders increases, so does the number of opinions.
Lake management professionals often encounter these situations. To help decision-makers choose lake management solutions and maintenance strategies that satisfy as many stakeholders as possible, it’s advantageous to start by considering four overarching factors:
A decorative pond is very distinct from an aquatic preserve, and both of these are vastly different from a productive trophy fishery or a large drinking water reservoir. Likewise, each of these waterbodies may serve multiple purposes. A community pond, for example, is aesthetically pleasing, but may also contain important equipment for stormwater collection. A reservoir sustains our communities and also likely functions as an exciting spot for boating and recreation. Making simple choices about the removal of aquatic plant species or adjusting water chemistry can require overwhelming input with dozens of goals in mind.
How do you meet in the middle? This is where it’s important to confer with a lake manager who specializes in the “human dimension” of goal setting. It’s unlikely that polar opposite goals can be achieved, but by collecting diverse input, thoroughly evaluating goals, and educating stakeholders about the various paths to achieve them, it is possible to find areas of unforeseen compromise and greater potential for success.
All lakes and ponds are different, whether they are located in separate states or right next to one another. Like a snowflake, a multitude of details come together to create a one-of-a-kind entity. These include the waterbody’s location, size, depth, age, the presence of invasive species, land use, and the level of surrounding pollution – and can go far beyond that.
Before moving forward with any kind of lake or pond maintenance strategy, it’s vital to collect data that reveals both the visible and unseen characteristics of the water resource. Laboratory testing, bathymetric mapping, surveillance, and other data gathering techniques can be used to inform the creation of a customized management program that maps out the path to success. Some goals may be simple to achieve while others require a more rigorous approach, but this can only be determined when accurate data is available.
Just as physical factors can influence a waterbody, so can elements like weather, temperature, rainfall, and even the season. These conditions can have dramatic, almost immediate effects on a waterbody by altering water chemistry, expediting erosion, causing fish kills, and more. The time of year may also exacerbate existing problems or create new ones without warning.
No matter your goal, timing will be a large factor in the planning and implementation process. For instance, lakes and ponds that require muck removal will often wait until the cooler months to complete hydro-raking or dredging projects in order to minimize down-time. And, nuisance algae and toxic cyanobacteria can be more effectively thwarted with proactive nutrient remediation projects before summer weather is in full swing. By understanding the importance of well-timed management projects, you can better budget for them.
Budget is often a limiting factor for stakeholders and it can be even more difficult to get all decision-makers on board with the prioritization of lake and pond management. It’s beneficial to create a comprehensive road map built on the aquatic characteristics, the timing of necessary services, and the long-term goals and expectations for the waterbody. With a clear, well-informed plan on hand, the benefits and upfront costs can be more accurately evaluated and conveyed.
On paper, smaller upfront maintenance costs seem more appealing, but they can also be extremely misleading. Though safe and effective, EPA-registered pesticides do not make algae or weeds disappear forever; they simply mask a problem that will continue to exist without intervention. Stakeholders looking to maximize their budget while maintaining their long-term goals will find the most success in an annual management program. By proactively investing in the future of your waterbody, you can spend and worry less over time.
As an Aquatic Specialist with more than a decade of experience, I’ve assisted hundreds of property managers with their lake and stormwater pond management needs over the years. Despite the diverse types of lakes and ponds they oversee, I’ve noticed that many clients have the same set of concerns or misconceptions about their waterbodies. These often come to light as we work together to design a freshwater management program. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of these common assumptions.
While lakes and ponds can be long-lasting features in our communities, they are not permanent. They fill with sediment that erodes from the shoreline or flows in during rainstorms. Weed growth and decomposition may lead to the development of muck. And trash, tree branches, and other pollutants can build up over time.
The aging of a lake or pond is a natural phenomenon, but can be highly accelerated through human activity and industry, reducing a waterbody’s life by decades. If left unmanaged over the years, your waterbody could eventually fill up until it becomes a marsh or puddle. This is a process called lake and pond succession.
The best way to prevent this inevitable decline is through proactive, ongoing management aimed at reducing erosion, nutrient pollution, muck development, and nuisance aquatic vegetation. These benefits are two-fold. In addition to prolonging the depth and overall lifespan of your lake or pond, you’ll also help prevent problems like algae, toxic cyanobacteria growth, bad odors, murkiness, invasive species infestations, fish kills, and more.
The most eco-friendly and long-lasting lake and pond management programs lean on holistic, natural solutions, but sometimes herbicides and algaecides are necessary to set your waterbody up for success. Herbicides tend to be a point of concern for property owners, but I’ve found that once they better understand the strict scientific processes surrounding the use of herbicides, their fears are alleviated.
Herbicides used in the lake management industry are designed to exclusively target specific weed and algae species without impacting desirable plants and animals. They do so by interfering with the unique growth mechanisms identified in nuisance species that are not found in beneficial ones. Likewise, the concurrent use of eco-friendly compounds called surfactants helps confine herbicides and algaecides to the affected area without migrating elsewhere. Historically, herbicides have been applied by licensed professional ground crews, but new industry technologies like drones are making it possible to remotely apply products with more accuracy and efficiency, particularly in areas that are hard to reach or unsafe to navigate by foot.
All herbicides must be evaluated and registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In addition to collaborating with scientific authorities throughout the US, the EPA also carries out bilateral cooperative programs with the World Health Organization (WHO) and many other countries around the world. Once approved, all herbicides are subject to compliance monitoring and periodic reevaluation processes to ensure lasting safety and success.
It’s not uncommon for a property manager to assume that the solutions used on a friend or colleague’s lake or pond will work on theirs. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to lake and pond problems because no two aquatic ecosystems are the same.
Your waterbody’s unique makeup and the way it responds to different treatments can be dictated by many factors, including water use, location, surroundings, plant and animal presence, pollution, and weather – just to name a few. Likewise, every stakeholder has different goals and budget requirements. That’s why freshwater management programs are most effective when customized for your unique aquatic environment.
Typically, the program design process begins by establishing a baseline of your waterbody through a visual survey of the property and comprehensive water quality testing. Your Aquatic Specialist should work with you to identify the challenges your aquatic ecosystem is facing and determine the best course of action based on your needs and limitations. And because all of these factors can change over time, these conversations should continue on a regular basis.
The management of lakes and ponds is truly a science and should be treated as such. When considering a management program, look for a freshwater management firm that prioritizes getting to know you and your aquatic ecosystem before implementing any services. Seek out an Aquatic Specialist who is educated about the responsible use of herbicides and is capable of sharing that knowledge with you in a clear manner. Our lakes and ponds are valued features that our communities rely on every day. If you oversee the management of these water resources, make sure you’re investing in both the present and its future.
Trent Nelson is an Aquatic Specialist at SOLitude Lake Management, the nation’s leading freshwater management firm specializing in the management of lakes, stormwater ponds, wetlands, and fisheries. Learn more about this topic at www.solitudelakemanagement.com/knowledge.
Tags: Common Area Issues, Lake Management Articles, Members Articles
This is not the time to neglect your lake or pond. Achieving a balanced, beautiful waterbody requires year-round attention and, in some cases, aeration. Fountains and aeration systems can provide many benefits to lakes and ponds and are one of our most recommended management solutions.
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Tags: Lake Management Articles, Management News
Do you know how often your water quality should be tested?
Balanced water quality is extremely important for all lakes and ponds, and proactive testing and monitoring is vital when it comes to helping prevent water quality problems in recreational lakes, stormwater ponds, fisheries, and drinking water reservoirs. Property owners often wait until an algal bloom, fish kill, foul odor, or other negative water quality problem occurs before implementing a basic water quality management program. This can have dire consequences.
Poor water quality can quickly lead to an unbalanced ecosystem, which not only threatens the natural ecology and recreational use of a waterbody, but can also affect surrounding waterways. Take the well-known toxic algal bloom that occurred in 2016 in Florida’s Lake Okeechobee. This catastrophic bloom released cyanotoxins into waterways and beaches along the Treasure Coast and surrounding regions. In addition to suspending boating, fishing, and swimming activities throughout South Florida, the dangerous bloom also posed a serious threat to the health of residents, tourists, pets, and wildlife. While a number of unique factors contributed to the development and spread of this harmful algal bloom, it is clear that water quality problems in our lakes and ponds can rapidly turn into ecological nightmares.
With proactive water quality testing and monitoring, it’s important to know where and how often water quality should be sampled. The use of the waterbody and surrounding land dictates how often water quality should be sampled, and individual waterbody management goals also affect the rate at which water quality is monitored. Water quality should be monitored during the season that supports plant and algae growth. The smaller the pond, the easier that water quality is influenced. Thus, monitoring should be performed more frequently for smaller waterbodies.
For larger lakes and ponds, water quality sampling frequency is determined more by waterbody’s benthic contours, inlets, and potential runoff from high-use areas such as farm fields, beaches, and heavily manicured lawns. Multiple sampling sites are typically located within a larger waterbody, depending on the breadth of external influences. Sampling multiple sites across several dates throughout the year can help identify localized areas within the lake or pond that are experiencing impaired water quality.
Fisheries, especially when managed for the growth of trophy sport fish, are a prime example of specialized recreational use, and frequent testing is crucial to a successful fisheries management program. Disciplined water quality monitoring that’s focused on desirable plankton production and available habitat can indicate how to further build and support the fishery. The forage-base in a fishery is also important and plankton sampling can help dictate how to manage or supplement the plankton population in order to help maintain the desired productive fishery.
No matter the shape, size, or use of a waterbody, a proactive annual sampling of baseline water quality conditions is recommended. A proactive approach to water quality testing and monitoring helps to document annual trends occurring within the waterbody and acts as a reference for emerging water quality impairments. For many, water quality sampling is a reaction to the lake or pond’s condition. Proactive monitoring, though, ultimately gives us a better understanding of the processes occurring within the waterbody and helps us identify potential problems before they occur.
Water quality monitoring and testing in a laboratory setting is a primary service in our SOL Pro Annual Management Programs. An annual management plan ensures that your lake or pond receives regular professional care – whether that includes nutrient remediation, fountains and aeration, oxygen saturation technology, mechanical harvesting and hydro-raking, or other sustainable solutions – to keep it looking and functioning at its best.
Storm drain cleaning and maintenance by Brothers Backflow Cover picture. (Members of SFPMA)
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