An Ounce of Prevention

By Patrick Simmsgeiger, Founder of DWI

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The summertime beauty and function of a pond, lake or water feature can be seriously threatened by problems that actually develop during the winter, Algae, aquatic weeds, fish kills and odors are all caused by a buildup of debris and a lack of oxygen- conditions that develop during the fall and winter. The time to start preventing summer disasters is spring.

Setting the Stage

The water in our lakes is actually a solution of various chemicals and contains suspended organic materials. Various techniques enable water to achieve equilibrium; that is, the state in which natural decomposition is balanced by the amount of chemicals and organic materials entering the water. A program of clarification, proper water circulation and sunlight suppression can correct winter contamination. These measures are far more desirable than severe ones, such as dredging and mechanical weed control.

Many things happen during the fall and winter that disrupt the equilibrium of water bodies. Some of the most obvious are increased debris from trees and activity from migrating and native waterfowl. Some occurrences are not so noticeable. Precipitation increases during the winter. Rainfall, which contains a surprising amount of nitrogen picked up from the atmosphere, can change the chemical balance (pH) of water bodies. In addition, runoff from rainfall moves fertilizers and debris from the watershed into the lake.

More important, the process of biodegradation slows during the winter. The organisms in the water that break down leaves, bird waste and dead fish function very slowly, if at all. They simply can’t keep up. When temperatures rise in the spring and summer, the contaminant load in the water is very high. These organisms require oxygen and a certain pH range to do their job. Water holds only so much oxygen, depending on the temperature and circulation in the water. The more oxygen consumed by microorganisms, the less available for fish and other water life.

Fertilizers applied during the fall and winter also break down much more slowly. Landscape contractors apply nitrate forms of fertilizer (ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate) to enable plants to obtain nitrogen and remain green during the cooler times of the year. Consequently, the potential for fertilizer runoff is greater during the winter. Nitrates that reach water bodies encourage the establishment of aquatic weeds and blooms of algae later in the season.

Add it all up, and you can see that the water in lakes, ponds and water features needs help in late winter and spring. Lake health depends on spring renovation.

Spring Lake Renovation

The goal of spring renovation is to bring the body of water back to equilibrium before high summer temperatures. and sunlight favor aquatic weeds and algae. To do this, you must reduce organic matter suspended in the water, adjust the pH of water to favor chemical breakdown and improve oxygen content. Other steps can be taken to improve lake health and discourage weeds, such as increasing lake depth and circulation; using dyes to reduce sunlight penetration; and preventing runoff and debris from reaching the water in the lake.

Reducing organic matter involves filtration or treating the water to cause organic particles to settle to the bottom. Filters are mechanical devices that require pumps, piping, a filter medium and power. The equipment must be operated and maintained properly, and the filter media must be flushed or replaced regularly to be effective. The time between filter maintenance events is determined by the load of suspended material in the water and the volume of water passing through the filter.

Treating a lake with chemicals requires sufficient circulation and an accurate calculation of the volume of water in the lake. The product needs to be both effective and safe for fish and irrigation if the lake is used as a reservoir. It must be applied correctly and evenly distributed throughout the body of water. For these reasons, selecting a professional applicator familiar with treating lakes is extremely important.

Clarification treatments should be followed with other steps to reduce light penetration and increase oxygen circulation. And, of course, now is the time to get serious about preventing debris from trees and lawns from entering the body of water.

The acidity or alkalinity of a lake influences how rapidly organisms function to digest contaminants. These organisms perform best at a certain range of a measurement called pH, which represents the amount of hydrogen present in the water. A balanced pH is 7.0. Tree leaves and rain can make the lake water acidic. However, a lake with a limestone shoreline can become too alkaline. The lake pH can change over time and reduce the effectiveness of beneficial organisms. The lake can be treated to restore proper pH.

Lake Depth, Weeds and Oxygen

Depending on the size and depth of the water feature, some provision should be made to maintain circulation throughout the year. Circulation distributes oxygen through the entire volume of the water, improves decomposition of organic matter and helps the lake maintain an even temperature at all levels.

A lake should be deep enough so that sun does not encourage establishment and growth of bottom-rooted weeds. Seed for these aquatic weeds can be deposited in the lake by wind or from bird droppings. Lake dyes can be used to prevent the sun from reaching the lake bottom and to impart a bluer cast to the water.

Deep lakes can develop stratification, or layers of water at different temperatures. The temperature of each layer determines how much oxygen it will hold, with cooler water holding more oxygen. Circulating water in the lake mixes the layers and makes the oxygen level consistent throughout the entire body of water.

Water that doesn’t circulate will also tend to hold more suspended material, which leads to discoloration and odors. Circulation causes suspended material to fall to the bottom of the lake where bacteria can break it down. Certain treatments can also cause suspended material to drop out.

When the amount of contamination entering a lake is impossible to control, a filtration system might be necessary. Filters are designed to catch a certain size of material. The right filter medium is needed to provide filtration at the most economical cost. Filters are also an additional maintenance concern.

Fountains and Injectors

Floating, motorized pumps can be installed in lakes either to pump air into the water (injector) or to pump the water into the air. Although pumps will provide additional oxygen, they also increase the water temperature so that it is more like the temperature of the air above it. The air pumped into a lake will not be distributed evenly throughout the lake without proper circulation. An injector that uses a pump on the lakeshore can also inject oxygen into the lake through tubes stretched across the lake bottom. All these devices take energy to run and require maintenance to operate properly.

Hidden activity beneath the surface of a water feature means that maintenance during the winter and spring is necessary to prevent serious problems in the summer. Because lakes contribute to our enjoyment and add to the property values, they are worth the investment in maintenance by knowledgeable professionals.

Controlling Algae & Aquatic Weeds

By Patrick Simmsgeiger, Founder of DWI

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In September of 2000, a call came from a southern Orange County, CA water district regarding Dove Canyon Lake, a ten-year-old, 450 surface acre lake that had seen a growth spurt of water hyacinth. Water hyacinth is a beautiful but rapid-growing and troublesome aquatic plant. Its deep green color and appealing purple blooms add to the aesthetics of a lake, but the plants can double in population in under twelve days. In addition to the obvious problems of preventing boat access, swimming and fishing, an overgrowth of water hyacinth prevents sunlight from penetrating the lake surface to allow the growth of beneficial plants, cut off oxygen, leading to fish kills, and adversely affects the lake’s aesthetics, fish habitats, biological balance and odor.

The water district requested a consultation regarding treatment and maintenance of the lake from Patrick Simmsgeiger, owner of Diversified Waterscapes, Inc. (DWI), a licensed pest control business. Mr. Simmsgeiger holds a qualified applicator’s license and is a certified lake manager through NALMS (North American Lake Management Society). After first inspecting the lake, Mr. Simmsgeiger met with country water district representative to discuss control products, and the methods and frequency of application to use to eliminate water hyacinth.

The lake had its challenges. There were huge areas of open water, but also small fingers and areas too narrow for a boat to navigate. Diversified’s boat and outboard motor could be used to treat the larger portions of lake, but the boat would have to be used without the outboard in the small coves. There were areas where a boat could not go at all, and these areas would require application from the shore with a backpack sprayer, or treatment from the top of the hillside with a high-power hose hosing a large tank attached to the company truck or a golf cart.

After careful evaluation, a solution was devised to treat the aquatic plant problem and work began mid-December of 2000. A small boat equipped with a custom-made sprayer was used to apply algaecide, formula F-30, Algae Control® (Diversified Waterscapes) along with herbicide, Reward® (Syngenta), to kill the water hyacinth. No other control options were considered, as the company already knew that the safest, most effective and rapid method to control water hyacinth was to use a spray tank mix of algaecide and herbicide. In this case Diversified used five (30 gallon) tanks. Each tank mix had two (2) gallons of Reward® with five (5) gallons of F-30 Algae Control®. This combination is used regularly by DWI not only because it is safe for aquatic life, but also because it is known to regularly improve water quality. At the time of application, the water hyacinth was not “out of control” but was a nuisance due to its excessive growth. The treatment method and products used were successful, but the customer declined the usual necessary follow-up treatment and twice-monthly monitoring.

In May 2001 the water district again called DWI to request another spray treatment of water hyacinth. Because five months had passed with no monitoring or maintenance treatments, it was necessary to check the lake for changes in plant life or water conditions. Because of regrowth, the water hyacinth had returned to its former state. DWI suggested and implemented a new course of spray treatments.

Within each aquatic environment, the question of how often to treat is one that is answered by DWI with a request towait and see. EACH lake, pond or stream is DIFFERENT. One lake can experience rapid growth of a weed or form of algae while another lake only a few feet away has beautiful clarity, no algae or weeds, and rarely requires attention. Like terrestrial plants, aquatic plants will take whatever opportunity offered to grow again. However, you never want to introduce the quality of water treatment products necessary to kill everything, as the balance of the ecosystem will be destroyed and the lake will be killed.

After treatment of the water hyacinth was completed, DWI called the water district two to three times, made site visits, and performed aerial observations. During this two-year period the water district trained and certified some of its employees to treat and maintain control of water hyacinth. However, they could not recall what types, brands or qualities of products they used during this period of time. The lake was surrounded by hillsides that are now dotted with million dollar homes for which the main selling feature is the view, capturing the beauty of the surrounding hillsides and mountain areas, and directly below, the lake. The original design and purpose of the lake was to catch and store rain and hillside runoff. However, the lake was by now a catch-all for residential runoff, accumulating nutrients from debris, tree droppings, car oils, soaps, etc. This runoff “fed” the plants, unbalancing the ecosystem and wreaking havoc with the clarity, appearance, odor and plant growth in the lake, which had now become a source of numerous complaints.

In July 2003, DWI received a call from the water district, this time requesting a harvester (separate contractor) for the water hyacinth. This call was what DWI termed a “warning flag”. Requesting a harvester usually means that there is a large body of water with a massive problem with weeds and/or algae.

When Diversified Waterscapes Inc. arrived, we discovered that the water hyacinth had returned with a vengeance, covering approximately 75% of a 21 surface-acre portion of Dove Canyon lake. The water hyacinth population was expanding at a rate of one foot per day and was killing the lake. A strong “attack” was scheduled after the harvester, using the same chemical mixture approach in 2000 for treatment. The goal of the treatment was to totally eradicate the water hyacinth, not to gain and maintain control of the plant’s growth. Most caretakers of aquatic environments keep certain areas of the water covered with the hyacinth because it is so attractive. In this case, the water district requested that all of the invasive plant be removed.

The reason for a follow-up treatment after harvesting is that once a harvester is used, seeds and stems from the weeds and algal spores are released and spread. If these reproductive units are hit with a treatment of herbicide and algaecide mix, re-growth will be minimal and slow. Because the weather was extremely hot and the sun was beating down on the water’s surface, (contributing factors to rapid growth) the water hyacinth was coming back faster than it could be harvested. The district requested that DWI perform spray treatments while the harvesting was taking place. Some portions of the lake were still densely covered with hyacinth, which made treatments challenging.

The herbicide and algaecide spray treatment was performed one day, under normal circumstances to be followed by a wait period. As after initial treatment, it is important to allow time (three to seven days) for the products used in the treatment to “settle” and do their job. Then, the developing results can be monitored. This approach enables the applicator to factor in the speed at which the products worked, judge the effectiveness of the “kill”, and decide if adjustments in the approach are needed for subsequent treatments. In this case, due to the incredibly rapid re-growth of hyacinth the lake was experiencing, another crew was sent out the very next day, followed by another treatment a few days later.

The combined treatments were so successful that the district called DWI a bit later for a different, but larger area, of the lake that was experiencing problems with water hyacinth, algae and duckweed. Spray treatments were performed using the same herbicide, Reward® and algaecide, F-30 Algae Control®- this time adding a surfactant, Activator 90®, to the mix (because more than the water hyacinth was involved). This combination was quite successful.

After implementing DWI’s treatment program total eradication of the water hyacinth was, at that point, achieved. The problem was resolved and the water district was satisfied. However, one cannot consider this a “permanent” solution. A “permanent” solution could involve the overuse of chemicals and the risk of killing the very body of water you are trying to save. Diversified Waterscapes does not ascribe to this control strategy. Water district personnel were advised to immediately remove the occasional regrowth of water hyacinth and the plant has not returned to overtake Dove Canyon Lake.

Conclusion

The invasive plant was virtually eliminated and the associated odor and appearance problems were resolved. The lake became aesthetically pleasing again to the homeowners and the complaints stopped. The lake is now alive and accessible. The treatment process, from the very first treatment to the last, had spanned a period of two and a half years. The cost of the one month of total chemical treatments was close to $20,000.00, and the harvesting took two and a half weeks at a cost nearing $45,000.00, all to eliminate growth of weeds and algae that had increased to the point of being out of control.

A lake maintenance company has been performed follow-up treatments of the same reservoir and lake to control the re-growth of the water hyacinth and manage the duckweed and algae. There have been regular treatments and the hyacinth has never come close to reaching the state it did in 2003.

The less learned? You can’t treat and walk away. You have to perform regular maintenance on a body of water. Maintenance means to keep in an existing state to preserve from failure or decline. And that’s what lake, stream and pond maintenance is all about, restoring bodies to a more natural, appealing state and keeping them that way.

Regardless of what part of the US you are from, Diversified’s products and methods of application make a difference in water quality and aquatic plant and weed control.

Hire A Pro!

By Patrick Simmsgeiger, Founder of DWI

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Proactive Lake Maintenance

You may think you want a lake maintenance company to fix problems when they arise, sounds about right; however, that is considered reactive maintenance and while it will solve apparent problems, this type of maintenance will not prevent time consuming and potentially expensive situations from erupting.

Lakes, streams, and ponds are complex water features. For the best results, they require proactive maintenance: a preventative approach to maintenance to works in conjunction with the exiting ecosystem in order to prevent overbearing and costly situations from developing.

Lake maintenance companies with a reactive approach hire personnel who can simply and only react. A company with a proactive approach trains their personnel not only to solve problems but also to be forward thinking to prevent them. Proactive maintenance personnel understand the root of problems and are able to eliminate costly situations before they occur.

Much like gardeners or landscapers monitor plants in our shopping plazas, community centers, recreational parks, etc., proactive lake maintenance professionals monitor the growth of aquatic plants in our water features. Proactive maintenance professionals monitor and control aquatic plant growth gradually as it develops; otherwise, like land plants they will grow at their own will and out of control creating a need for timely and expensive reactive restoration.

To avoid expensive reactive restoration, a proactive professional treats problems even when they are not visible. For example, the origin of an overgrowth problem could be unseen accumulation of sludge occurring at the base of a water feature, a proactive professional will treat the sludge to prevent the more expensive situation of overgrowth. Further, proactive maintenance professionals remain aware of seasonal changes that may affect the body of water. For example, a proactive lake maintenance professional monitors aquatic plants while they are dormant, during winter months, to prevent unsightly overgrowth situations in summer months.

In addition to preventative precautions taken to maintain the actual body of water, proactive maintenance companies train their employees to understand the workings of all equipment in the underground Pump Vault: electrical panels, pumps, bloomers, fans and lighting systems. To prevent costly equipment malfunctions, a proactive professional will take the preventative measures to ensure all wiring and equipment in the Pump Vault is functioning safely and efficiently. For example, if a motor in the pump vault is hot the cause can be determined and the customer informed of the corrective action before the problem becomes increasingly costly. In such a situation, a proactive company may replace a $400 component, and save the cost of replacing a $7,000 pump!

The more you know about your lake maintenance company the more you will know about your lake – a proactive company will keep you informed about potential issues and provide you with preventative, cost-saving solutions. Proactive lake maintenance professionals take preventative measures to ensure that expensive, time consuming and stress causing problems do not become overbearing. Ask questions to make sure the company hired is not simply reactive. Any maintenance company can fix problems; you need a company that can also prevent them.

Is It Possible To Have A Well-fed Lake

By Patrick Simmsgeiger, Founder of DWI

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“Pure water” brings to mind images of spring-fed lakes, high in the mountains, far from the perils of contamination…In truth there is no such thing as pure water.  Mountain lakes have weeds and contaminants just like those in cities.  You won’t find pure water on earth, except in a laboratory and what works in the lab doesn’t always work in the field.

To judge a lake’s cleanliness, we should compare different chemicals, bacteria, minerals, and suspend matter in the water.  Some can be harmful, whereas others can be helpful.  Instead, we use subjective opinions based on appearance, odor and taste. Water can be taken to a laboratory and to determine its content but that is rarely done.

The naked eye detects obvious problems, such as weeds, odors, and cloudiness.  These problems are not entirely preventable.  Weather conditions tip the scales in favor of algae in shallow lakes, runoff from surrounding landscapes enters lakes and it’s impossible to keep birds and fish out of lakes.  Consequently, even the best superintendent can run into lake problems.

Dredging, filtration, circulation, and treatment can all work together to provide the greatest protection against outbreaks of weeds.  However, not all of them are practical for lake owners.  Doing nothing, on the other hand, is a prescription for serious lake quality problems.  You can try to beat the odds or carry out a practical and affordable lake maintenance program.

Chemical weed control is more practical and cost effective than mechanical. Dredging, weed removal, filtration and circulation involve equipment and power.  Chemical treatments can be handled by a properly trained, certified applicator. Chemicals used in aquatic weedcontrol have to be approved by federal and state EPA but, used regularly and properly, algae control products are not harmful to beneficial bacteria, wildlife or fish.

Algae is selectively sensitive to mild concentrations of copper in water. The effectiveness of algaecides depends upon the ability of the copper to reach and stay in the vicinity of the algae. Chelated copper algaecides are notably more effective. Once the algae has been killed, there must be adequate oxygen in the water to permit rapid decomposition.

Algae needs light to grow and reproduce. The solution to this problem is use a dye.  Dyes can be mixed with the lake water to shade out sunlight and to rob the algae of their ability to grow and reproduce. In short, chemicals used  with enzymes and bacteria are a useful and economical way to restore your lake’s balance.

Lake & Pond Maintenance is not for Amateurs

By Patrick Simmsgeiger, CEO of DWI

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The individuality of ponds and lakes makes their maintenance far more complicated than simple principles of cause and effect. Out of ten lakes, two or three may need to special maintenance, three may be very tough to manage, and five may need simple preventative measures. It’s the tough ones that motivate property and waterscape managers to seek a specialist.

As someone devoted to water management problems, I have many tools, but their use needs to be directed wisely. Property Owners, Property Managers or Golf Course Superintendents can treat smaller ponds like swimming pools only if they have money to burn. They can exclude natural solutions in favor of chemicals or equipment-based ones (like filters), or they can hire a professional who understands how to balance natural and artificial treatment methods.

We have all kinds of tools, some work as promised, but none are a solution in itself. The best approach is to start with the idea of restoring a natural balance by providing adequate circulation, managing nutrient levels, ensuring adequate aeration, establishing a proper balance of fish species, and adjusting suspended solids and organic content with equipment and registered chemicals.

The trick is not to create a new problem by overloading one side of the equation. Nature is complex. You have to stay close to every job to really appreciate what it takes to avoid an aquatic imbalance. That’s why aquatic management is more complicated than many other aspects of facility management.

When your lake or pond gets hit with an algae or aquatic weed problem, the answer won’t be a single fix-all. It will be a package of solutions that work together to resolve the problem. Bottom line: making one change and moving on won’t correct the problem.

You need to establish how important each water feature is to you to get serious about a budget that will ensure the water feature’s aesthetic value. Everyone involved needs to determine whether a water feature is, or is not, worth maintaining properly. That’s as simple as it gets.

If you do respect the value of water features, you will then appreciate the concept of natural balance. However, you probably won’t want to go into specifics of population percentages between forage fish and weed eating species. You probably won’t know about the type of fish that controls the snail that acts as host to swimmer’s itch. You may not appreciate the value of fish species that eat insect larvae. You won’t know the difference weed control in flowing water and reservoirs.

Your aquatic management professional will know the answers. There are guidelines that describe the numbers of specific types of fish per 1,000 square feet of lake surface. There are certain chemicals that need to be applied at very close tolerances based upon acre feet of water in each lake. The aquatic maintenance measures will not work at incorrect rates.

As an aquatic management specialist, it’s my job to know the answers. If you want to keep your lake under control, I have the knowledge and experience to do that. At the same time, I can give you some hints as to the acceptable slope for watershed; the trouble caused by over watering highly fertilized areas around lakes; and the positioning of trees near bodies of water. (The debris from their leaves is a major source of nutrients in lakes.)

When you look for assistance with lake management, first determine whether the individual is licensed by your state and has all the related applicator’s licenses. (In some states, you must be certified to apply lake dyes.)

Second, ask for proof of Worker’s Compensation coverage and liability insurance coverage, including performance bonds for large, complex jobs.

Finally, check references. Probe for job performance feedback. The time you invest in now save you work in the end.

Keep in mind that much more of the earth is covered in water than land, yet we assume land is the only thing that counts. Let me respectfully suggest there is a whole world out there that matters a great deal to us. We just need to give it the respect it is due.

That’s what a few of us do every day. You can have it all if you delegate lake management to a knowledgeable person. We aren’t cleaning pools, we are managing a delicate balance between natural aquatic organisms and the aesthetic appearance of highly visible bodies of water within landscapes.

Lake & Stream Primer

By Patrick Simmsgeiger, Founder of DWI

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The makeup of ponds, lakes, and streams means retaining the “natural” beauty is far more complicated than one would think. Out of ten of your water features, two might need nothing, though ones that motivate owners to seek a specialized treatment plan.

You can ttreat smaller features like swimming pools if you have money to burn and don’t have fish or “critters” living in the water. But over time even chlorinated water features will end up having problems due to the chlorine’s effectiveness diminishing.

When you respect the value of your water feature, it follows to appreciate the concept of natural balance. There are all types of tools, some work as promised, but none are a solution by itself. The best approach is to start with the idea of restoring a natural balance by providing adequate circulation and filtration, ensuring adequate aeration and introducing a balance of aquatic plants and fish. To retain this balance the suspended solids and organic content must be continually adjusted using equipment and water treatment products. The trick is to not create a new problem by overloading one side of the equation.

When your water feature gets hits with unsightly pea soup green appearance or starts to emit an odor, the answer won’t be a single fix-all. It will be a package of solutions working together to resolve the problem. Bottom line, an aquatic problem can’t be fixed by making one change, forgetting it, and moving on.

For example, I can give you some hints regarding the trouble caused by over watering a highly fertilized landscape bordering ponds, lakes, and streams, or the positioning of trees near bodies of water. (The debris their leaves is amajor source of nutrients in lakes hence, a major source of trouble.)

When runoff water enters an already established waterscape it brings with it oils, dirt, minute debris, clay, leaves, brances, trash, and countless other things that can only serve to put a strain on the natural balance of your water feature. Obviously the first thing you want is to physically remove the trash that is visible using nets or other means. Once that is done the need to treat those seen and unseen organisms and nutrients becomes your priority. If there is unsightly foam it will rapidly and easily be removed by applying biodegradable products such as formula F-10 Foamkill. When there are minute particles clouding up your water, use a flocculent, such as formula F-20 Enviro-Clear. It’ll “grab” all those pesky little things and drop them to the bottom leaving clean, clear water in place of that cloudy water. If your water is loaded with algae, or is a disgusting pea soup green, utilize the algae busting strength formula F-30 Algae Control. F-30 Algae Control speeds up the algae destroying process while adding much needed enzymes to the water feature. Once this treatment regimen is complete the water can be colored with formula F-40 Enviro-Blue to a deep blue to discourage the sun-s ray from encouraging algae growth or a lighter blue to appeal to your sense of beauty. Lastly, to keep the bottom sludge levels lower and enhance the water clarity quality use formula F-50 Bio-Pure, a natural bacteria.

Never assume that one treatment alone will resolve your problems. Keep in mind you are managing a delicate balance between natural aquatic organisms and unwanted contaminants as you attempt to bring your ponds, lakes, and streams to an aestheitically pleasing appearance.

Lake & Stream Primer for Golf Courses & Superintendents

By Patrick Simmsgeiger, Founder of DWI

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The individuality of streams and lakes makes maintenance far more complicated than simple cause and effect. Out of ten of your course’s water features, two might need nothing, three might be very tough to manage, and five might need simple preventive measures. It’s the tough ones that motivate golf course superintendents to seek a specialist.

Courses can treat smaller features like swimming pools if they have money to burn, natural solutions can be executed in favor of chemical or equipment-based ones (like filters). . . or, a professional who understands how to balance natural solutions with artificial measures can be hired.

There are all kinds of tools, some work as promised, but non are a solution by itself. The best approach is to start with the idea of restoring a balance by providing adequate circulation, managing nutrient levels, ensuring adequate aeration and adjusting suspended solids and organic content with equipment and registered chemicals. The trick is not to create a new problem by overloading one side of the equation.

Course superintendents respect the value of water features so it follows he or she appreciates the concept of naturalbalance. However, they probably won’t want to go into the specifics of population percentages between forage and predator fish or appreciating the value of fish species that eat insect larvae.

We could go on forever listing all the detrimental nutrients that are added to a water feature due to runoff. It goes without saying that runoff from highly fertilized turf is going to wreak havoc with your waterscapes. The debris from tree leaves is a major source of nutrients in lakes and also a major source of trouble. Grass clippings (the tips) contain the highest level of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) of the entire grass stem. Taking these clippings and placing them into a body of water makes “today’s grass clippings tomorrow’s algae bloom”. Reclaimed water is an entirely different and extensive subject to broach. Course superintendents already know and are frustrated by, the problems inherent to the use of reclaimed water due to the nutrient load and the high salt content.

When your water feature gets hit with an unsightly pea-soup group appearance or starts to emit an odor, the answer won’t be a single fix-all. It will be a package of solutions working together to resolve the problem. Bottom line, an aquatic problem can’t be fixed by making one change and moving on.

Keep in mind that much more of the earth is covered in water than land, yet we assume land is the only thing that counts. We already know there is a whole world out there that matters a great deal to us. We just need to give it the respect that it is due. That’s what professionals do every day. We aren’t cleaning pools, we are managing a delicate balance between natural aquatic organisms and the aesthetic appearance of highly visible bodies of water within the golf courses. That’s our specialty. Don’t assume that one thing can resolve all problems, but be encouraged, you can have it all if you delegate lake and pond management to a knowledgeable person and remember it’s nature with whom we are dealing.

Lake & Stream Primer for Turf Specialists

By Patrick Simmsgeiger, Founder of DWI

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The individuality of streams and lakes makes maintenance far more complicated than simple cause and effect. Out of ten of your golf course’s water features, two might need close to nothing, three might be very tough to manage, and five might need simple preventive measures. It’s the tough ones that motivate golf course superintendents to seek a specialist. Because neglect is the worst enemy of lakes, streams and ponds, action e.g. maintenance and treatment are required.

Problems

Water is innocent, but its stowaways are not. Organisms can build up on the bottom and sides of a water feature. When they die, they become nutrients (food) for other aquatic organisms. They create a self-perpetuating problem unless you step in and break the chain. Phosphates, nitrogen, organic material, oils, and minute plant life are the villains. We can protect water’s reputation and eco-system by being more aware of the contaminants it can carry.

To touch on some of the problems about which you are probably already aware, we’ll give you a general idea of the trouble caused by – over watering fertilized turf that surround your ponds, streams, and lakes; the positioning of trees near bodies of water; and the troubles your lakes and streams experience when grass clippings are dumped into the water feature.

We could go on forever listing all the deterimental nutrients that are added to a water feature due to runoff. It goes without saying that runoff from fertilized turf is going to wreak havoc with your waterscapes. The fertilizer is loaded with nutrients that serve as a growth stimulator for the aquatic weeds and algae. In essence, you are nurturing that which is most offensive to you and the club members and/ or residents.

The debris from tree leaves is another major source of nutrients in ponds, lakes, and streams, making it a major source of trouble. Grass clippings (the tips) contain the highest level of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) of the entire grass stem. Taking these clippings and placing them into a body of water makes “today’s grass clippings tomorrow’s algae bloom. Once again, you have the issue of food for better and faster aquatic wed and algae growth.

Then there is the issue of reclaimed water, which is an entirely different (and extensive subject) to broach. Golf Course Superintendents already know, and are frustrated by, the problems inherent to the use of reclaimed water due to the nutrient load and the high salt content. The color is off, the algae is harder to control and the odor is difficult to manage.

When your water feature gets hit with an unsightly pea soup green appearance or starts to emit an odor, the answer won’t be a single fix-all. It will be a package of solutions working together to resolve the problem. Bottom line, an aquatic problem can’t be fixed by making one change and moving on.

Course Superintendents respect the value of water features so it follows he or she appreciates the concept of natural balance. There are all kinds of tools, some work as promised, but no one is a solution by itself. The best approach is to start with the idea of restoring a balance by providing adequate circulation, managing nutrient levels, ensuring adequate aeration and adjusting suspended solids and organic content with equipment and registered chemicals. The trick is not to create a new problem by overloading one side of the equation.

In lieu of natural counterbalances, we fight back by adding products to slow down the progression of biological contamination. We manipulate pH (acidity and alkalinity) to make sure the additives effectively block contaminants. We run filters and periodically remove visible contaminants from the bottom. We block sunlight to organisms that use sunlight and chlorophyll to grow.

Filtration and circulation are often the weak points in a contaminated aquatic system. Keep filters and filter media clean. Circulate water in a volume and frequency that permits sufficient filtration and oxygenation. Filters only work when the pump is on, therefore, in a perfect world the pumps should run 24/7 but in this time of energy conservation, the pump should be activated at least twelve hours daily so the filter can do its job and the water does not become stagnant. As we all well know stagnant water, aside from being unsightly, smelly, and a great place for algae to grow also becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. And we now have the West Nile Virus concerns because of the mosquitoes that breed in motionlesss water.

Design has a significant influence on weed problems. Depth is important and the shape of a feature greatly affects circulation and filtration. Debris from trees, fertilized turf and ornamentals are big factors in the introduction and increased growth of aquatic weeds and algae. A good aerator, properly placed, will keep water circulating and recharge water with oxygen. However, realize that aerators and fountains along will not eliminate contamination.

• Problem - Foam (caused by soaps and dead organic material)

• Solution - Defoamers. Very effective and application rates vary with the amount of foam. Just remember, chlorine can reduce their effectiveness.

• Problem - Clarity (caused by minute particles floating in the water, some forms of algae clay mud or dirt, etc.)

• Solution - Verify that there is good aeration and circulation then purchase a flocculent/ clarifier. Flocculent/ clarifiers are like magnets. They latch onto floating or suspended contaminants (suspended silt, algae, dead organic matter and dust), “group” them all together, then make them so heavy they fall to the bottom. There are also some good bacteria you can purchase that will enhance the water quality and clarity and can also help by digesting some of the bottom sludge.

• Problem - Algae. Algae can’t grow to the point of being invasive and excessive if nutrients aren’t present, even when conditions are perfect. They need food like all of us. But, lets face it, we are in an imperfect world thus nutrients are generally present. With this in mind we must not ignore the problem but aggressively treat and control the algae. If the problem of algae is not dealth with, like all problems, it won’t just go away. There are products that “kill” everything in sight. . . rapidly. There are other products, which manage the algae and “kill” the offensive plant but are gentler to the environment and the fish that dwell within. These products usually contain copper sulfate in one form or another with the variations on content and chelation being the factors that makes a particular product “safer” than another. Once the algae is at the level of control desired the use of a biological is recommended to keep the sludge at a lower level.

• Solution - Ensure there is sufficient aeration and filtration. After the issues of aeration and filtration are addressed and you still have an algae problem you will then need to apply a product made to control and/ or eradicate algae. There are some enzymes that work well in “boosting” the algae control products. Make sure there are no compatibility difficulties.

• Problem - Color. You have a tournament coming up and want your lakes to look especially good for the players and residents but also for the media. Dyes block some of the sun from hitting the algae and aquatic plants (which need sunlight to grow). Without sunlight plants can’t produce chlorophyll, which means carbohydrates, the food need by plants to grow, are not produced. Used properly, dyes are not a threat to fish or humans and can reduce algae and aquatic plants.

• Solution - Obviously all the above contribute to a better appearance. Once control is gained over the aforementioned issues and the color needs to be more aesthetically pleasing it is time to buy a dye. There are dyes that are safe for water, waterfowl, fish and other living organisms.

In summary, please bear in mind that much more of the earth is covered in water than land, yet we often behave like land is the only thing that counts. We already know there is an earth filled with water that matters a great deal to us, we just need to give it the respect it is due. Don’t assume that one thing can resolve all problems, after all, this is nature with which we are dealing. You can have it all, if you delegate lake and pond management professional does on a daily basis. They aren’t cleaning pools, they are attempting to preserve and maintain the delicate balance between the natural aquatic organisms and the desired aesthetics of the highly visible bodies of water within your golf courses. This is an aquatic professional’s specialty and the reason his/ her business exists. Problems with your feature? Call the professionals!

Nature vs. Lakes

By Patrick Simmsgeiger, Founder of DWI

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When bottled water companies want us to think their product is pure, they show us images of spring-fed lakes high in the mountains. These lakes are assumed to be free of organic contaminants, bacteria, and chemical toxins. Therefore, our impression of pure water includes white snow melting on a rocky peak far from the perils of contamination.

In truth, there is not such thing as “pure” water. Mountain lakes have weeds and contaminants just like those in cities. They experience the same life cycle as their cousins down below. Once a flood, earthquake, or volcano forms a lake, nature begins a long process of trying to eliminate it.

Water’s primary role on earth is as a solvent that dilutes minerals and chemicals and carries suspended solids. When we judge a lake’s cleanliness, we are really comparing different chemicals, minerals, and suspended matter in the water. Some can be harmful, whereas others can be helpful. To make accurate judgments, we really need the truth about each.

Filters, while removing suspended contaminants, can’t make water pure. They have no impact on dissolved materials in the water. Water conditioners, which aren’t practical for lakes, utilize a chemical reaction to replace some dissolved minerals in water with others. This exchange makes the water seem “softer”. It also increases the content of other minerals, including sodium in the softer water.

The bottom line: No simple way exists to say with certainty that one lake is cleaner than another. Instead, we use subjective opinions based on appearance, odor, and taste. We can take water from a lake to a laboratory and find out exactly what’s in it, but few people would actually do that.

Solutions Exist

We don’t need a laboratory test to detect problems such as weeds, odors, and murkiness in lakes. There are solutions for each problem and a combination of these is most beneficial in the long term.

These problems are not entirely preventable. Weather conditions can tip the scales in favor of algae in shallow lakes. It’s difficult to prevent runoff from surrounding landscapes from reaching lakes, and it’s impossible to keep birds and fish out of lakes. Consequently, even the best superintendent can run into lake problems under certain circumstances. Dredging, filtration, circulation, and treatment can all work together to provide the greatest protection against outbreaks of weeds. However, not all of them are practical for lake owners. Doing nothing, on the other hand, is a prescription, for serious lake quality problems at some point. You can try to beat the odds, or you can carry out a lake maintenance program that is practical and affordable for you. Prevention is preferable to curing an established problem. Once aquatic plants gain a foothold, they are harder to control for a number of reasons.

Once way to look at a lake is by its nutrient content. Algae competes with other plants and bacteria for nutrients in the water. These nutrients come from waste from birds and fish, dead plants, and fertilizers applied to surrounding landscapes that drain into the lake. While controlling runoff and animal waste is very difficult, we can reduce the amount of dead plant material by various control methods. We can also increase competition by adding manageable plants and beneficial bacteria.

Chemical methods of weed control are more practical than mechanical methods. Dredging, weed removal, filtration, and circulation involve equipment and power. Chemical treatments can be handled by a professional in a relatively short amount of time on a regular basis. Algae control products used properly are not harmful to beneficial bacteria, wildlife, or fish.

Chemicals used in aquatic weed control have to be approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency and your state environmental agency. Most must be applied by a certified applicator who has been trained in weed identification, proper use, and ability to determine the appropriate dose for the particular lake.

Primary Problems

Lake health and appearance are most severely impacted by foam, murkiness (suspended solids), and algae. Foam can be caused by detergent residue entering the lake. Detergents are minerals that clean by latching onto particles of dirt. The combined detergent/ dirt particle move with the water until it finds a collecting point, your lake.

The visible foam is detergent particles that have mixed with air and water to form bubbles. These bubbles have significant surface tension and remain intact. The way to eliminate them is to lower the surface tension of the bubbles so they will break down.

Murkiness is caused by a large amount of solids suspended in the lake water. Why these particles remain suspended, rather than falling to the bottom, is the result of an electrical attraction between water molecules and the tiny particles. By eliminating the charge with a chemical, the particle will no longer be held in suspension by the water and will fall to the bottom quickly. Circulation and filtration can also lower the amount of suspended solids in the water.

Algae is selectively sensitive to mild concentrations of copper in water. The effectiveness of algaecides depends upon the ability of the copper to reach and stay in the vicinity of the algae. Chelated copper algaecides are notably more effective.

Once the copper has killed the algae, there has to be adequate oxygen in the water to permit rapid decomposition of the algae. Bacteria carry out decomposition. When oxygen is lacking in the water, the bacteria’s ability to break the algae down is restricted. Anaerobic bacteria can continue to break the algae down, but in the process, they release a detectable sulfur gas.

Aeration and circulation can improve the oxygen content of the lake water. Beneficial bacteria are commercially available to provide reinforcements for your lake’s bacteria. However, they will also require oxygen to do their job.

Finally, algae needs light to carry out photosynthesis, which enables it to grow and reproduce. Dyes can be mixed with the lake water to shade out sunlight and to rob the algae of their ability to carry on photosynthesis. These dyes are a natural blue and are chemically inert and safe to wildlife.

Dead algae, once broken down by bacteria, become nutrients for other algae problem, follow-up treatment is necessary until the nutrient load caused by the dead algae is brought down to normal. Cool, well-oxygenated water is necessary to prevent algae blooms from raising the nutrient load in your lake. Steps to reduce nutrients from a runoff and animal waste will also contribute to a healthier lake.

Once the balance between nutrients and decomposition is disrupted, chemicals are a useful way to restore a healthy balance to your lake.

Off Season Lake Maintenance = Summer Enjoyment

By Patrick Simmsgeiger, Founder of DWI

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The summertime beauty and smooth functioning of a water feature can be seriously threatened by conditions that actually develop during the fall and winter. Algae, aquatic weeds, fish kills, and odors are all caused by a buildup of debris from trees, “deposits” from waterfowl and a lack of oxygen. The time to start preventing summer disasters is in the spring. A program of clarification, circulation, and treatment can correct winter contamination.

Rainfall obviously increases during the winter and contains a surprising amount of nitrogen picked up from the atmosphere. This nitrogen content can change the chemical balance (pH) of lakes. Runoff from the rains brings mud, fertilizers, soaps, oils, and other debris into a lake.

The biodegradation process slows during the winter. Organisms in the water that break down leaves, bird waste and dead fish, function very slowly, if at all. Organisms require oxygen and a certain range of pH to do their job. Water hold sonly so much oxygen, depending upon the temperature and circulation in the water.

Fertilizers break down much more slowly. Landscape contractors apply fertilizers that contain nitrates. Nitrates in water features encourage the establishment of aquatic weeds and blooms of algae later. Lake health depends upon spring renovation.

The goal of spring renovation is to bring the body of water back to equilibrium before sunlight and high summer temperature encourage aquatic weed and algae growth; reduction of organic matter suspended in the water; adjusting the pH of water to encourage chemical breakdown; and improving the oxygen content.

Filtration and treatment of the water help to reduce the effectiveness of beneficial organisms. But the lake can be treated to restore proper pH, thus encouraging chemical breakdown and better balance.

Treating a lake with products requires sufficient circulation and an accurate calculation of the volume of water in the lake. The product needs to be both effective and safe for fish and fowl.

Provisions should be made to maintain circulation throughout the year. Deep lakes can develop layers of water at different temperatures. This is called stratification. The temperature of each layer determines how much oxygen it will hold. Cooler water holds more oxygen. By causing water to circulate, the layers are mixed and the oxygen level is consistent throughout the water feature. Circulation distributes oxygen through the entire volume of the water, improves decomposition of organic matter, and helps the lake maintain an even temperature at all levels.

Much goes on inside and outside a water feature. Neglecting a water feature during the other seasons can result in serious problems in the summer. Following these water care guidelines and utilizing licensed and knowledgeable aquatic maintenance professionals your lake should be a source of enjoyment and satisfaction for years to come. After all, lakes are here for us to enjoy.