PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR LAKE

As man's activities bring more and more nutrients into ponds and lakes, the natural production of oxygen and nature's cleansing action have not been able to keep up with the increase. Although added nutrients have increased the aging of ponds and lakes, the use of forced air aeration has proved effective in prolonging their natural life cycles. By supplying your water with greater amounts of oxygen, aeration systems can slow down the natural aging process. Increased plant growth, resulting from greater amounts of nutrients, cause ponds and lakes to use more oxygen in the decomposition of dead plant life. If the bacteria breaking down the organic matter use too much of the water's oxygen, there will not be enough oxygen for fish life. A proper aeration system provides adequate oxygen for both increased decomposition and for fish life.

Many people ask the question, why was my pond or lake crystal clear and free of weeds and algae 20 years ago? The answer to that question is lengthy, most likely nutrient loading is the cause. Decayed weeds, algae, goose manure, and expanding human population contribute to the cause. As more people build homes in a watershed, (all the surrounding land that empties its surface water into a water body), they create erosion problems and add fertilizers to their lawns. Septic systems fail over time and leech nutrients into the watershed. These are just a few of the ways a lake or pond can be affected.