Reasons Why Your Lake or Pond Management Plan Isn't Working
Why Your Lake or Pond Management Plan Isn’t Working
Managing a lake or pond is challenging. Even with a plan in place, things can go wrong because these ecosystems are constantly changing. If your efforts aren’t delivering results, here are three common reasons—and what to do about them.
Your Plan Is Outdated or Missing
If your pond or lake isn’t thriving, your management plan might need an update—or you may not have one at all. Goals, budgets, and environmental factors change over time, and your strategy should evolve too.
For instance, maybe you originally prioritized aesthetics, but now you want a fishing-friendly lake. Or perhaps a tree that once shaded the water has been removed, allowing more sunlight to heat the water, disrupt oxygen levels, and throw off the ecosystem. Changes like landscaping, new fertilizers, or invasive species can also alter water chemistry and impact your pond’s health.
For example:
If you’ve shifted from aesthetics to supporting fishing, your plan needs adjustments.
Cutting down a tree could increase sunlight, raising water temperature and disrupting oxygen levels.
New fertilizers, pesticides, or invasive species could be altering water chemistry and harming the ecosystem.
Review and update your plan regularly. Start by testing the water for dissolved oxygen, nutrient levels, and potential pollutants. Based on the results, you can introduce solutions like aerators, fountains, nutrient-remediation products, or beneficial bacteria to restore balance. Proactive management—including regular testing and visual inspections—can help you catch and address issues early.
Call A&B Aquatics to create a plan. We will start with water quality testing to check for dissolved oxygen, nutrient levels, and pollutants. Use tools like aerators, nutrient remediation products, or beneficial bacteria to restore balance. Frequent testing and monitoring help catch issues early.
Global Warming Could Be Impacting Your Waterbody
Climate Change or Global Warming are more than just a buzzwords — it may be reshaping lakes and ponds everywhere. Hotter summers lead to increased evaporation, reducing water depth and leaving shorelines vulnerable to erosion. In severe cases, this can require costly dredging or shoreline restoration.
Rising temperatures and extreme weather are taking a toll on lakes and ponds. Heat increases evaporation, leading to shrinking shorelines, erosion, and reduced water depth. This can lower oxygen levels, harm aquatic life, and promote invasive weeds, algae, and toxic bacteria.
Warmer water also means lower oxygen levels, which can harm fish and aquatic life. In cooler regions, longer growing seasons create ideal conditions for invasive weeds, algae blooms, and even toxic bacteria.
Adapt your management plan to handle changing conditions. Flexibility is key to keeping up with the impacts of climate change. Call A&B Aquatics to create a plan. Your management plan must be flexible to account for these evolving challenges. Stay proactive, monitor conditions regularly, and be ready to adjust strategies to keep up with nature’s changes.
Urban Runoff and Nutrient Pollution
Urban sprawl can wreak havoc on lakes and ponds. Stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots, and sidewalks often carries pollutants like trash, fertilizers, animal waste, and chemicals into the water. These excess nutrients fuel the growth of invasive weeds and harmful algae.
Stormwater runoff from urban areas carries trash, chemicals, and fertilizers into your waterbody. These excess nutrients fuel the growth of invasive weeds and harmful algae. While herbicides and algaecides offer short-term relief, they don’t address the root cause.
Use products like alum or lanthanum-bentonite clay to remove or neutralize excess nutrients.
Consider mechanical hydro-raking to clear out nutrient-rich sediment.
Plant shoreline vegetation to filter pollutants before they enter the water.
Combat nutrient pollution by removing or neutralizing excess nutrients with products like alum or lanthanum-bentonite clay. Mechanical hydro-raking can also clear out nutrient-rich muck from the waterbed. Additionally, planting beneficial vegetation along the shoreline can act as a natural filter to help prevent pollutants from entering the water.
Keep Your Lake or Pond Healthy
Challenges like climate change and urban development aren’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean your lake or pond has to suffer. A flexible, proactive management plan is your best defense. Regular assessments, thoughtful adjustments, and expert guidance can help you stay ahead of problems and keep your waterbody healthy and beautiful for years to come.
