Turbidity

How you proceed with this project, will depend on what you are starting with, and with what your goals are. In either case many of the same procedures apply. If you are starting with a newly built pond It may be necessary to get some vegetation growing along the banks. This will be needed to lower the turbidity of the water. Turbidity is simply the soil particles that are held in suspension in the water. If you have a lot of clay, and a lot of rain, the water will probably be muddy. Covering the banks with vegetation, will lower the number of soil particles that end up mixed with water, by helping to prevent erosion.

If turbidity is a problem, almost everything you need to do to will be effected. That is why we bring it up first. We will cover the best ways of dealing with suspended sediments in the next section.

Turbidity problems are sometimes found in older ponds as well. This usually results from runoff of soil containing water from disturbed ground. Plowed fields, and construction sites are sometimes responsible. Increased vegetation around the pond should help with this as well.

Eutrophycation

A common problem in older ponds is eutrophycation. Eutrophycation is excessive fertility. This often occurs when nutrient rich runoff from over fertilized lawns and pastures ends up in your pond. Here, again, vegetation should provide the solution. A thick vegetative barrier can be planted at the mouth of the pond.

These things will need to be done before proceeding to the next part of the project.

A little lake weed control pop quiz!

I hope you paid attention in class!

Lake weed control problems occur as a result of?

• A. The invasion of exotic lake weeds.

• B. Excessive fertility in ponds and lakes.

• C. Lack of plankton to color the water.

• D. Too much light penetrating to the lake bed.

If you answered “D”, you answered correctly. Congratulations! We could have added fifth, for “all of the above”, but it really would not matter. The all inclusive fact is, that without the light penetration to the bottom of a lake, weeds will not grow. No matter how fertile the water, no matter how little algae bloom, no matter what type of lake weed, native or exotic, it can not grow without light!

Water color and depth

Light penetration is determined by two things. The waters color, and depth. If the water is “dark” enough, light can not reach the bottom where weeds, and even algae get their start. If the water is deep enough, light can not reach the bottom. Both issues should be dealt with. There are always areas that will be shallow, and your fish need the food provided by the chain that starts with algae bloom, but some light can penetrate even perfectly colored water and reach the bottom in very shallow areas.

Algae bloom

It is true that algae bloom can go a long way toward decreasing that light, and thereby decreasing the growth of lake weeds, but it can not stop all of them. In shallow areas on sunny days, and in the summers when lakes lose water to evaporation, weeds may exist high enough in the water profile, to get light, and grow faster than the water is replaced. Fluctuating depth can give the weeds a start when the water is low, and then allow them to continue to grow as the water gradually rises.

Water depth

There is really only one way to prevent this problem. Make the lake deeper! This can be done by raising the water level, as in raising the height of the drain outlet or spillway, but that can put your lake at risk. We have all seen water soaked dams fall victim to erosion.

Dredging

There is another way. Dredging. Getting rid of the years of silt that are deposited in the bottom of your lake can decrease your lake weed problems. Most people know that this is an expensive, and messy exercise, but weighing it against constant chemical lake weed control treatment costs for several years may make it look a lot more appealing in the long run. Besides that, new technology is producing new types of equipment that may make it a less costly, and less messy proposition.

You might want to give dredging some consideration during these early days of the “off” season. Getting the dredging done during the late fall and early winter should have you back to normal for the spring and summer fishing fun.

That is your lake weed control test for the day. Class dismissed!

Note:

Chemical controls can be highly effective for dealing with aquatic lake weeds, but will only kill the growth present at the time. If the cause of the underlying problem is not dealt with, the weeds will return. You can count on it. Lake owners should be aware that lake maintenance like any other property maintenance is an ongoing proposition.

In fishing ponds and lakes, irrigation reservoirs, and stock tanks, pond scum algae can be a serious problem. It can cause water intakes to fail, cause mosquito problems, and cause fishing to be a swampy, messy, less than fun experience. So, how do you get rid of it.

Pond scum can be removed manualy by skimming it from the top, but scum skimming is not much fun, and can be quite time consuming.

There are a lot of products on the market for getting rid of pond scum algae. Copper products, both granular, and liquid can be spread or sprayed across the top of the algae, causing it to die and sink. Diquat also works well. Whichever product you choose, follow the label directions to a “T”. To do otherwise is a violation of federal law, and can do severe damage to your pond or lake.

If the body of water is completely covered, do not treat more than from one quarter, to one third of it at a time. Dying vegetation uses up dissolved oxygen, and if too much is depleted, it can kill your fish. Proper chemicals, properly applied, will not usually kill fish, but dying vegetation will.

Pond scum, it goes by a lot of different names, but most of the time, it is really a type of algae known as filamentous algae.

Algae, are very primitive plants, there are several types, including the planktonic algae that is often suspended in the water profile of a pond or lake, and gives it that green tint that we are all familiar with. It is a single cell, that feeds aquatic invertebrates, which, in turn, feed larger creatures and so on up the food chain.

There are more advanced forms of algae as well, such as “Nittela”, and “Chara”, which resemble vascular rooted plants.

Filamentous algae, or pond scum starts growing at the bottom of a body of water, and gradually moves to the top by virtue of the buoyancy it provides through the creation of oxygen by the process of photosynthesis.

Pond scum, algae

In the future, when you pull your vehicle into the fuel station, you may have choices like these: Regular, Mid Grade, and Pond Scum. Yes, it is true, there is a movement to make pond scum the next great fuel source. Stop laughing! I am not joking. There are even some big names, with big money, and a lot of science behind it!

But, If you have a pond or lake on your property, you probably aren’t ready to start putting it into your fuel tank just yet. There is a lot of research that is yet to be done, and a refining process to be, well, refined. In the mean time, you most likely dont want the mosquitoes and other problems associated with excessive fillamentous algae growth, so we will offer a little information on getting rid of it.

Mosquitoes like cover as well, and a heavily vegetated area, complete with pond scum and algae provides protection for them and their larvae, and keeps the fish from being able to eat them. This kind of cover gives snakes, bugs, mosquitoes, and other unwelcome guest a place where they feel right at home. Unfortunately, it can make life miserable for you!

Well, whether you like to do your own aquatic management, or leave it to someone else, Texas lake solutions can help. We have tips and tricks, information on water quality, pH, fertility, and aquatic weed control, and a full line of services. At Texas Lake Solutions we are sure that you can find something here to improve your pond or lake, and keep those nasty critters away. Pour a cup of coffee, and take a look around. We are happy you dropped by!

Foreclosures Causing West Nile Virus! That’s a different twist to the tumbling real estate market story. A story in the Economist tells of a situation in Southern California involving foreclosed properties, and unattended swimming pools where mosquitoes come to breed. There has been a marked increase in bird deaths due to West Nile, and according to the story, human problems are soon to follow. Apparently, there are laws and ordinances in place making real estate companies and banks who are responsible for the foreclosures, responsible for maintaining the property as well, but it doesn’t appear to be working.

This scenario is repeated across the country in more ways than you might imagine. Foreclosed, or unsold properties are becoming numerous, and maintaining them can be expensive, but it must be done. Minimal maintenance maximizes the chances of serious insect and rodent problems, particularly where swimming pools, ponds, and lakes are involved. It can be problematic where brush and weeds are allowed to grow close to the the property in order to cut down on the cost.

Where ponds and lakes are involved, the foreclosing entity should make arrangements for regular care until new owners have control, otherwise, the property may never sell. It is notoriously difficult to sell swamp land!

If only Stevie Ray was around to see this! It is flooding in Texas, and the really strange thing, it’s August! I have lived in the Lone Star State my entire life (so far) and have never seen the like. Inspite of the fact that this is interfering with a lot of our normal activities this time of year, like not being drought stricken, most of us are pretty happy with this change from the normal hundred plus weather and dust.

Weather and lakes

How does all this relate to your pond or lake? Well, that remains to be seen. It could help with your weed problems by raising the water level enough to prevent light from getting to the bottom of the shallow areas, or it could cause them to break up and move around , planting new colonies as they go. It will probably be like everything else that results from what nature throws at us, a mixed bag.

Just be thankful for the rain!