[an error occurred while processing this directive] Lake and Pond Newsletter Spring 2009

The Headwater Tides

Volume 10

Volume 11

March 27, 2009

In This Issue

Contact Us

Aquatic Biologists, Inc.

N4828 US Hwy 45 S

Fond du Lac, WI 54937

http://www.aquaticbiologists.com

info@aquaticbiologists.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Ready for Spring!

 

Spring is a joyous time of year, but few look forward to it as much as lake or pond owners. The transition from winter to spring in a lake or pond is gradual, with several stages that may affect the water quality, health and/or aesthetics of the waterbody throughout the year.

Your lake or pond's water will look its clearest just before spring starts; however do not assume the water is actually at its cleanest. The summertime beauty and function of a lake or pond can be seriously threatened by problems which developed during the winter. Algae, aquatic weeds, fish kills and odors are all caused by a buildup of organic material which depleted dissolved oxygen and released nutrients into the water column throughout the winter. The time to start preventing summer disasters is now, in early spring.

 

Winter changes the equilibrium of water bodies in many ways; including increased debris from trees and activity from migrating waterfowl. Some things also take place during the winter that you can not readily see. Rain and snow contain a surprising amount of nitrogen picked up from the atmosphere. As the snow melted and spring rains fall, runoff is created which moves fertilizers and debris from the watershed into lakes and ponds.


More importantly, during the winter, the process of biodegradation slows. The microorganisms in the water which commonly breakdown organic materials such as leaves, decaying algae, dead fish, fish waste, manure from waterfowl, etc. function very slowly, if at all. They simply can not keep up. This creates a high nutrient load within the lake or pond. As temperatures increase during the spring and summer microorganisms require oxygen to do their job. As more oxygen is consumed by microorganisms, less is available for fish and other aquatic life. A well designed aeration system will alleviate low oxygen levels improving water quality for fish.

 
Add it all up and you can see that the water in lakes and ponds needs help early in spring. Lake and pond health depends upon spring maintenance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorable Quotes

 

“It's hard for the modern generation to understand Thoreau, who lived beside a pond but didn't own water skis or a snorkel.” ~ Bill Vaughn

 

 

Spring Maintenance

The goal of spring maintenance is to bring lakes and ponds back into equilibrium before high summer temperatures and sunlight favor nuisance aquatic plant and algae growth. The goal is to reduce organic matter suspended in the water, reduce available nutrients, reduce suspended solids, increase water clarity, improve the oxygen content and possibly adjust the pH of the water whenever possible.


One of the main nutrient reduction management tools ABI uses is Bio Boost Phosphate Cleanser (BBPC). Nutrients, another way of saying fertilizer, are the main fuel algae need to transform lakes and ponds into a thick, smelly green soup. The more dissolved nitrogen and phosphorous (nutrients) contained in the water column, the greater the growth of algae. One pound of phosphorus can support 500 pounds of algae.

 

ABI advises our customers to perform a BBPC treatment as early in spring as possible. A BBPC treatment generally involves spraying BBPC across the entire surface of the lake or pond. Once applied BBPC quickly removes phosphorus from the water and seals it in the bottom sediment.

ABI Sediment Blocks are commonly used to increase water clarity and further reduce available nutrients. ABI Sediment Blocks are placed in lakes or ponds to bind colloidal clays and other suspended sediments that discolor water. Once bound, the sediment will settle out of the water column quickly and resist re-suspension.

Clarification treatments (such as BBPC or ABI Sediment Blocks) should be followed with other steps to reduce light penetration (ABI Dye), increase bio-augmentation of organic materials (Bio Boost Bacteria and Enzyme) and increase dissolved oxygen levels. And, of course, now is the time to get serious about establishing buffer zones and preventing organic materials from entering the waterbody in the first place.

 

Lake Depth, Weeds and Oxygen

Depending upon the size and depth of your lake or pond, some provision should be made to maintain circulation throughout the year. Diffused aeration systems use compressors to pump air to bottom diffusers. The diffusers then distribute the oxygen throughout the entire water column. When properly designed, diffused aeration systems circulate and oxygenate the entire water column while improving decomposition of organic material in the water and on the bottom. Annual maintenance will help maintain optimum performance.


Lakes and ponds should also be designed deep enough so that sun does not encourage establishment and growth of bottom-rooted aquatic plants.  Aquatic plants, although very useful as oxygen producers and habitat, should be limited to areas within the littoral zone designed for their growth.


Much goes on below the surface of a waterbody. Neglecting them during winter and spring can result in serious problems in the summer. Lakes and ponds are there for us to enjoy; preventative maintenance is usually a good investment.

Texas Hunter Fish Feeders

 

Texas Hunter’s directional fish feeders were carefully engineered and designed with reliable & convenient performance features, making these fish feeders the clear choice among pond management professionals and lake owners across America.

A high velocity air stream projects feed pellets into the water, delivering a wedge-shaped feed pattern approximately 45 feet in length by 20 feet in width. EZ Set Digital Timer - backed by a 5-Year Limited Warranty - controls a specially engineered dual motor system. A metered flow of feed is introduced directly into the air blower assembly, eliminating the need for problematic augers, solenoids or shut-off gates

Considering Feeding Your Fish?

Proper pond management can result in a sustainable, healthy fish population while providing excellent angling opportunities for family and friends. Proper pond construction, structure, stocking, plant management and fish harvest are the cornerstones of pond management; but pond owners may also utilize supplemental feeding. Supplemental feeding will enhance bluegill and perch growth. Supplemental feeding will also improve catch rates by concentrating fish in feeding areas. These feeding areas make it easier for young anglers to catch fish.

Please be aware that providing supplemental feed is not a substitute for a proper fishery management program. Guidelines for providing supplemental feed for bluegill populations are as follows:

  • Use a small (i.e., BB size) pelleted, floating feed with at least 25% protein. The small size is necessary so the bluegill can easily consume the feed. Higher protein feeds (i.e., 32-36%) are more costly and are not necessary since enhanced growth can be achieved with lower formulations.
  • Keep your feed in a metal storage bin to prevent rodents and moisture from ruining the feed.
  • Train bluegills to readily consume floating feed. Start by feeding bluegills a small amount of feed (i.e., only several pellets of feed - less than a handful) from the same location and at the same time daily.
  • Once the bluegills are readily consuming the feed, provide no more than they can consume in 10 minutes.
  • Supplying more than maximum daily feeding rate amount could lead to a fish kill due to oxygen depletion from decomposing food. In highly fertile ponds, the recommended daily feeding rate is 3-5 lbs. per acre.
  • Feed bluegills daily throughout the growing season beginning in April or when the water temperature stabilizes above 55oF through October. However, decrease feeding to 3-4 times each week during the hot summer months.
  • Winter feeding is not necessary as the metabolic rate of fish decreases in relation to the decreasing water temperatures.
  • As fish come out of their hibernation mode in April, their level of activity will greatly increase. This does not mean you need to immediately start feeding them twice a day or more. Until the water temperature stays above 55°F, you really should restrict any feeding to a small amount early in the day. This will give the fish adequate time to digest the food before the temperatures drop at night.
  • As a general rule of thumb, use one automated feeder for every 5 surface acres of water.
  • One pound of fish food typically grows eight pounds of fish.

Did You Know?

Sonic Solutions® works to control a variety of algae species including blue-green algae species? Sonic Solutions is an environmentally safe technology that uses the resonance of ultrasonic waves to kill algae. Sonic Solutions® operates 24-hours a day, and each unit provides coverage for up to 5 acres depending on the site conditions.

 

Ask about our 3 month rental.

Exposure to Blue-Green Algae

Notice: a message from the Wisconsin DNR

 

The Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health (BEOH) in the Wisconsin Division of Public Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect information about human and animal illness and death resulting from exposure to blue-green algae (also known as cyanobacteria).  By studying this information, BEOH staff will be able to better understand and quantify the public health problem posed by harmful algal blooms (HABs), raise awareness of these problems and inform efforts to prevent exposures from occurring.

 

The HABs program is partnering with the Wisconsin Association of Lakes to collect case information about human and animal illnesses or deaths.  BEOH staff are asking members of local lake associations to notify them of any known or suspected human or animal exposures to cyanobacteria that may have resulted in illness or death.  Animal exposures can include pets, livestock or wildlife such as birds and fish.

 

The HABs team will be collecting information about symptoms and any treatment received or provided.  They will also collect exposure information and may seek to quickly collect environmental samples.  While individuals experiencing symptoms of cyanobacterial exposure should seek medical attention, general information and referral on health issues related to harmful algal blooms is available from BEOH staff.

 

Cases can be reported by calling (608)266-1120 or by visiting www.Tinyurl.com/bluegreenalgae and leaving your contact information. This will generate an email to HABS team members who will then follow up with you. For more information about harmful algal blooms or the HABs program, contact Dr. Mark Werner at (608) 266-7480.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floating Islands

This is perhaps the most exciting product that we have! Floating Islands serve a multitude of functions.

  • They beautify the water with unique structure. You can anchor them in place, let them float freely or link up multiple islands to create your own archipelago!
  • The plant roots and extensive surface area of the island are colonized by microbes that absorb great quantities of nutrients and pollutants from the water, significantly improving water quality.
  • The islands and the plants that grow on them provide terrific habitat for most types of aquatic organisms by providing cover and enhancing the food chain. For example: microbes grow on the islands, zooplankton feed on the microbes, insects feed on the zooplankton, fish feed on the insects, et cetera.

Living Walkways, Docks and Piers are custom-made floating islands that can be designed in any configuration you choose. Please visit our website for more information.

Fish Kills

Aquatic Biologists, Inc. received many calls this winter related to winter fish kills, most of which could have been prevented. Lake and pond owners should be aware that many things can cause the death of fish - and when the fish are dying it is usually too late to stop the kill. However, many fish kills can be anticipated, and measures taken to prevent them.

Winter Kill
During winter, the oxygen supply under the ice depends upon the passage of light and the production of oxygen by planktonic algae (tiny plants) in the water. If snow covers the ice, sunlight cannot penetrate and the plants are unable to produce oxygen. The oxygen is gradually used up by decay processes and by the respiration of fish and other aquatic animals. If the snow remains on the ice long enough, oxygen is depleted and fish suffocate.

 

Winter kill is most likely to occur in fertile, shallow, weed-filled ponds. To prevent winter kills, deepen the pond and remove fertile organic matter. Removing the snow cover from the ice will permit light to penetrate to the underlying plants. Making holes in the ice will not help. Aeration can help fish survive and prevent oxygen depletion. Compressed air systems should be utilized in depths which exceed eight feet.

Summer Kill (Aquatic Plant Die-Off)
Ponds that contain an abundance of submersed aquatic plants or algae sometimes have a fish kill when plants die suddenly. Aquatic plants frequently die during mid-summer and use up the oxygen in the water as they decay, fish suffocate as a result. This almost always occurs about sunrise when the dissolved oxygen is at its’ low point for the day. Natural die-offs of phytoplankton (algae) blooms are a common cause of summer kill. On rare occasions fish may die or be in distress in mid-afternoon because of increased pH of water or toxic algae blooms.

To prevent a summer kill, control rooted aquatic vegetation and algae so they never become dense. If the stand is dense, treat only a part of it at any one time and allow that part of the vegetation to decay before further treatment. Artificial aeration can help fish survive and prevent oxygen depletion.

Summer Kill (Temperature)
Water temperatures in shallow ponds may reach 90o to 95o F during hot summer months. Water holds very little oxygen when its temperature is above 90 o F. On days with little breeze, little or no oxygen is added to the water and the dissolved oxygen may disappear entirely just before dawn and as a result fish would die from suffocation.

To prevent this kind of summer kill, ponds should be deepened so that 25% of the area is 7 to 10 feet deep or deeper. Floating Islands may be used to provide fish with cooler water areas as the islands provide shade from sunlight. Artificial aeration can also help fish survive and prevent oxygen depletion.

Natural Mortality
In the spring a few large fish may be found dead along the shoreline. Such mortalities are often the result of natural causes. The natural resistance of fish to disease is lower in the early spring than at any other time of the year. Larger fish may have reached maturity and died during the period when ice covered the pond.  Predators which would normally consume the fish are not present because of the ice and therefore fish that die naturally during the winter only show up when the ice melts in the spring. 

Have your fish orders in by the April 30th, 2009

Drip Systems

Drip systems or metering pumps may be utilized to properly feed chemicals (i.e., Cutrine Ultra) or bio-augmentation products (i.e., Bio Boost Bacteria and Enzyme) into a lake or pond at a continuous rate. This provides for practical and cost efficient application practices in flowing or aerated water situations.

 

The drip system is set at a rate proportionate to water flow such that chemical concentration remains constant for the duration of treatment. Drippers are simple, valve-regulated pipes, which provide a constant head pressure in the chemical tank via a vent tube. Output is depended upon pipe size. Twelve-volt metering pumps provide a simple method of adjusting output rates. They can be equipped with flow devices, which automatically adjust chemical output to stream flow.

 

Newsletter Special

Purchase any floating island 25 square feet or larger and receive one flat of aquatic plants free!

 

A savings of $96.00

 

Mention coupon code “spring news” when ordering.

 

Offer valid now through May 31st, 2009 to Wisconsin and Northern Illinois residents only.

 

Ask a Biologist

“I have a lined pond and think its leaking. How do I know for sure and how can I fix it?”

 

You should be aware that lined ponds lose water due to evaporation.  Typically, the highest evaporation loss occurs during the fall when water temperatures are warm and a cold, dry air mass moves in. When you see steam rising from your pond, it’s caused by evaporation.  You can lose up to 2” of water in one day. You should also be aware that large willow or cottonwood trees growing near a pond may remove up to 1,000 gallons of water a day. That’s a lot of water! 

 

The best time to figure out if you have a leak is after the ice has formed on your pond.  If the pond level drops during the winter, you may have a leak.  Usually the level will drop until it reaches the leak area, so while the ice is still on and the level is stable you should mark the level in some way.  Remember the level may rise in the spring if there is any kind of watershed.  You need to know where the lowest level is and then start looking.  Many times a nuisance pest (i.e., a muskrat) of some kind has caused the problem.  Once a liner has been in for a year or more, either plastic lined or clay lined, there is very seldom a problem with leaks unless something has interfered with the liner.

 

After identifying (easier said then done) the leak you then repair it.  Plastic lined ponds can be repaired by welding or taping while a clay lined pond can be repaired by adding bentonite clay or a bentomat patch.

 

Have a question you would like to submit? Please send your questions to info@aquaticbiologists.com Remember to type “Ask a Biologist” into your e-mail’s subject line.

Featured Waterbody Photo

Aquatic Biologists, Inc. would like to remind you to enter our Featured Waterbody Photo Contest. Winners will have their waterbody featured on our website. Visit http://www.aquaticbiologists.com/featuredwaterbody.shtml for more information.

Our latest winner - Mr. Tim Winkelman, from Gleason, WI. Please visit http://aquaticbiologists.com/featuredwaterbody.shtml#Thismonth to view the winning submission.

 

To Be Removed From Our Newsletter Distribution List email info@aquaticbiologists.com. Please include the following text in the e-mail subject line - Remove from Newsletter Distribution List

 

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