Water creates beautiful environments of relaxation and enjoyment, and unique designs from streams to waterfalls to ponds, all of which serve to create settings reflective of the developers and properties throughout the area.
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Ponds and lakes often serve a twofold purpose on many of our properties. The first purpose is that engineering design dictates storm water retention ponds have a primary function of diverting somewhere else any precipitation that falls on impervious surfaces such as roads, parking lots, or roofs in order to prevent flooding. The second purpose is for creating the natural beauty and aesthetic of a water feature which can display an array of wildlife, vegetation, and dazzling fountains. All too often the beauty of our aquatic habitats becomes fouled by thick mats of algae, or choked out by invasive aquatic weeds, and end up becoming more of an eye sore than the attractive centerpiece we hope for. A lake or pond covered in slimy green algae makes us the wrong kind of blue.
The main culprit for most algae and weed problems stems from an excess of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. These can originate from external sources such as fertilizers, geese populations, and soil erosion; or, internal sources such as years of accumulated organic material or sediments releasing phosphorus under anoxic conditions. Fortunately, there are many solutions that a reputable aquatic management firm can provide. Light and nutrients that aquatic plants require can be minimized by applying pond dye and/or nutrient binding products to the water body. Bottom diffused aeration systems add oxygen to the ecosystem promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria which consume excess nutrients as well as reducing fish stress during the summer months when dissolved oxygen levels in ponds and lakes are lowest. Finally, algaecides and aquatic herbicides can be applied which usually achieve successful results such as those shown in these photos. Sometimes, due to years of sediment and nutrient accumulation, none of these solutions achieve the desired results and it may be time to consider organic sediment removal or dredging. Sediment mapping is recommended beforehand to assess volumes that could be removed for accurate dredging quotes, and to determine the restoration water depths of the pond. Follow up analysis can ensure that the pond has been restored to original water volumes.
It’s important to remember that ponds are dynamic, living ecosystems made up of biological, physical, and chemical components that benefit from a proactive management plan. This plan can include services for other pond concerns such as cattail/phragmites growth, shoreline erosion, native shoreline buffer management, wetland plantings, fish stocking, water sampling, and fountain/aeration sales and service. So if your pond or lake is constantly giving you headaches instead of peaceful views, contact a professional aquatic management firm so you can restore your water feature back to its healthy, beautiful state. Keep the wrong kind of blues at bay in favor of water that reflects the blue sky!
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