Aquatic Pesticides Regulations

SpringScenicPond_Byrd Park_Richmond_VA_04.15_BrentW architectural fountain

Learn About The Federal Clean Water Act

Maintaining NPDES Compliance

On October 31, 2011, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit went into effect. This new permit will likely affect you and your pond directly. NPDES is the primary federal legislation that regulates point source pollution to the waters of the United States. Under these new regulations, if you own or manage a property with a pond, then you will be responsible for making sure that all pesticide applications related to the pond meet the requirements of the new permit.

Some of the activities that will be regulated under this permit include algae control and weed treatments in the water, shoreline vegetation control and mosquito control. And the most important part of this new law is that as a decision maker or financier for the applications, YOU are just as liable for permit compliance as the applicator.

Although NPDES is a federal permit, the legislation is implemented by the individual states in most cases, so the permit requirements are not the same in every state, and are very familiar and up to date with all of the necessary regulatory compliance required in all of these jurisdictions, ensuring that all of our clients will be properly covered. At SOLitude Lake Management, we are licensed to apply pesticides in eleven states, so we need to be extremely familiar with the regulations in all of these jurisdictions to ensure that we are in compliance no matter where we are working. In general, the permit requirements are geared to minimize the overall amount of pesticides applied to the water, to reduce the number of adverse incidents related to pesticide applications, and to ensure that violators are held accountable for their actions.

Since the decision maker/financier and the applicator are “co-permittees,” the conditions of NPDES compliance may be the responsibility of one party, but are the liability of both. For instance, the decision maker/financier will need to demonstrate that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies have been considered prior to the decision to apply pesticides. This may include non-chemical control methods such as aeration, beneficial bacteria, and triploid grass carp. Permit compliance information will need to be maintained for each site, in addition to detailed documentation of each pesticide application. For all of our current clients, this is already being done, and no additional action will be required on your part.

NPDES and You: New Federal Regulations that Affect Your Pond

So what exactly is your responsibility as the pond owner or manager? Since NPDES compliance requirements vary by state and are based on site-specific conditions, there is no standard answer to this question. However, you will need to be familiar with the specific pesticide regulations for your state and work with your qualified aquatic pesticide applicator to develop a compliance program for your pond or lake. It is important to ensure that all aquatic pesticide applications to your pond or lake are completed by knowledgeable and experienced applicators that are aware of and compliant with the new regulations.

SOLitude Lake Management utilizes a specialized lake and pond management software program to manage our application data, and many facets of NPDES compliance are already part of our daily operations. We will work with our clients and our industry partners to ensure that all of our operations are compliant with these new permit requirements, and can provide consulting services for any operator in the development of a NPDES Pesticide General Permit compliance program.

Unfortunately, as we move forward and the full extent of these new regulations are realized, you could be faced with some additional permit compliance fees or other associated costs related to the required filings and compliance work resulting from the federal NPDES permitting. We will keep all of our clients abreast of the changes as they occur.

Not sure whether or not your current lake and pond management partner is NPDES compliant? Trust your pesticide applications to the industry leading experts at SOLitude Lake Management.

Nothing But Compliments for SOLitude

SOLitude has been managing our lake for the past two years. Through their efforts, the lake’s water quality has improved tremendously. Even with one of the hottest and dryest seasons, I received nothing but compliments on the water clarity, as well as positive feedback from fishermen about the abundance of healthy fish.

Darren Brooks

City District Manager, Parker, CO

Highly Trained Professionals

SOLitude has the manpower to handle all jobs, large or small, and the expertise to answer any questions. They care about their clients, which is easy to see when observing the quality of work provided by them during every visit. SOLitude is the team of highly trained professionals you want to maintain the waterbodies on your property.

Matthew Clem

Golf Superintendent, Fort Myers, FL

No More Algae!

SOLitude has completely corrected our community pond. No more algae, which has kept the fountain running well. We have a monthly maintenance contract, and I always receive notice of when they are coming and if they found any issues.

Emily Schollian

Property Manager, VA

Keep Lake Free of Algae & Debris

SOLitude Lake Management has been the lake management company for our community lake located in Alexandria, VA, for five years now and we have found them to be very professional and responsive to our needs of keeping the lake free of algae and other debris. They also service the lighted fountains when needed. The team members are friendly, receptive, and willing to discuss lake maintenance options when signing the contract.

Carol Devine

Lake Committee Chairperson, Alexandria, VA

Recommend Without Hesitation

I have used SOLitude’s services for about five years. They have turned my pond into a very fine little fishery for bass and bluegills. They have also made the pond much more attractive. SOLitude’s consultants check my pond on a regular basis and I have found them all to be knowledgeable, friendly, and very service oriented. For any landowner looking to improve the appearance and the fishing productivity of their pond, I would recommend SOLitude without hesitation.

Edmund Cowart

Private Landowner, New Ulm, TX

Positive Results

My subdivision in College Station, Texas, has two lakes and SOLitude Lake Management took over water and shoreline management six months ago. While we still have occurrences of water weeds, algae, and duckweed, we are getting on top of the problems much quicker. While we are only halfway into our 1st-year contract, these early, positive results are encouraging. We appreciate the service and especially the science SOLitude brings to our relationship.

John Himmel

College Station, TX

Pond Care That Allows Me to Relax

I needed on-site pond care that the local pond management companies could not service. I gave the SOLitude specialist who comes 100+ miles 20 times per year the title, “Director of Ponds & Streams”. He is that good. They are organized and responsive to the degree that allows me to relax.

Tom Snyder

Private Landowner, Sapphire, NC

Service Has Been Excellent

I have been using SOLitude for several years to manage our retention basin in our neighborhood through our HOA. Service has been excellent.

Scott Shelley

Property Manager, Marlton, NJ

Our Lake Is In The Best Condition

Our lake had portions of it that you couldn’t get a kayak through. We used to call SOLitude when we saw a problem, but then it was too late. We entered into an annual contract for them to periodically inspect our lake and treat it accordingly. SOLitude’s employee, Jeff, calls regularly, visits our lake, inspects it, and if needed, treats whatever required -We have not had any major weed or algae problem. Many of our members have commented that the lake is in the best overall condition in a long time. I am very pleased with their constant care of our lake.

Neil Magargal

Private Landowner, Oak Ridge, NJ

Keeps My Pond Looking Great Year-Round

SOLitude is always available to answer questions and help landowners tackle the difficulties of managing a lake or pond. They helped me with aeration and lend me their knowledge to keep my pond looking great all year!

Philip Bye

Private Landowner, Cambridge, MD

Addressed Overgrowth In Canal

We had major overgrowth in our canal leading to lake tarpon. SOLitude came out promptly, assessed the situation, and addressed the problem. We are very happy with their service and have also retained them to maintain our canal on a monthly basis.

Matt Saraswat

Palm Harbor, FL

Customer-Oriented Service

SOLitude Lake Management services the lakes in my community. We have enjoyed many years of very professional customer-oriented service. The gentlemen that do the fieldwork are very knowledgeable and courteous. I would recommend them for all your lake management needs.

Keith Dean

Alva, FL

Responsive with Our Concerns

Our association has employed the services of SOLitude Lake Management for a number of years. Being the person to actually manage and pay for services, I have regular contact with the technician. He has been very responsive to our specific concerns and needs as has the office when I needed to ask questions.

Robert Shinedling

Board Member, Lantana, FL

Gerald Keeps Our Lakes Looking Beautiful

I’ve worked with SOLitude for eight months now and couldn’t be happier. Gerald is our specific lake tech in our community and does a fantastic job keeping our lakes looking beautiful and helping out with questions and concerns. Highly recommend this company to anyone who wants to see their lakes looking fantastic!

Community Member

West Palm Beach, FL

Superior Service for Over 7 Years

Jason and Jacob are the two aquatic specialists that I have been dealing with for seven years. In my HOA, we have 10 retention ponds, two inflow, and one outflow canal. Very complex ecosystem overall! SOLitude and their staff have provided superior service to all of us over the years! When we have concerns, they have always stepped up to the pump! 5-star rating!

Bobby Ambrose

Board President, Brandon, FL

Homeowners Are Happy with Results

SOLitude has been maintaining our community lakes for the past two years and they are now in excellent shape. Before we switched to SOLitude, we had severe problems with algae growth during the summer. They were able to analyze the problem and over a period of about a year get the lakes cleared up. Our homeowners are very happy with the results.

Alan Marlor

Community Committee Member, Osprey, FL

Pleasure to Work with Mitchell

For the past 2 years as a member of our neighborhood board, I worked personally with Mitchell of SOLitude Lake Management. Our neighborhood has over 40 lakes & ponds. I can honestly say it was a pleasure to work with this vendor. Mitchell provided weekly updates and as our aquatics expert, he helped educate us and assisted in developing a restorative approach to our lake & pond management. It was a pleasure to work with such a knowledgeable representative. Thanks!

Colette Price

Board Member, Bradenton, FL

Professional & Prompt with Service

We have been using SOLitude Lake Management for some time now and they are always professional and prompt with service. Raquel has personally assisted us in the office, she is awesome!

Property Manager

Pompano, FL

A+ Service

A reliable company that you can trust. A+ service. Keeps our lakes stocked up with fish and algae-free throughout the year.

Julio Trejo

Miami-Dade County, FL

Took Care of All Our Problems

Our lake was a mess 2 years ago. SOLitude Lake Management came in once a month and took care of all the problems we had. Anytime we have issues, which there were very few, they send someone to address it within the week. Great company and super people to work with.

Private Landowner

Miami-Dade County, FL

Natural Resource Experts

We have used SOLitude for several years, and are very happy with the relationship. They are responsive to our needs, cost-effective, and professional in their service. We use SOLitude for all our natural resource needs (lakes, littoral, and preserve). SOLitude approaches our property in a proactive manner and cost-conscious manner. Their technical people also have the ability to effectively communicate with us non-technical types.

Joseph Meli

Board President, Naples, FL

Aquatic Specialists Are A Phone Call Away

SOLitude services all the water, weed, and algae requirements for our Condominium Lake which 7 buildings back up to. Our Aquatic Specialist Ean does a fabulous job taking care of all our needs and has many owners complimenting on how great our water looks. Ean is just a phone call away and shows up immediately. He is always friendly and very knowledgeable and takes care of the issues. I would highly recommend this company to anyone for your lake water needs.

Doug Berlet

Board President, Naples, FL

Great Partnership

SOLitude manages our 28 lakes at our Country Club and we have formed a great partnership with them and in particular Christina and Garrett. They are responsive to our needs and take the time to explain their process and ongoing management plans to staff, board members, and owners as well as answer their questions.

Joe Burden

Country Club General Manager, Fort Myers, FL

Responsive & Resolved Our Issues

SOLitude has managed our community’s 24 lakes for many years and we are very satisfied with their performance. One of our lakes has been experiencing regular algae blooms and SOLitude’s biologist, Christina, performed a comprehensive lake and water analysis to determine the cause of the problem. Recommendations were presented and the problem was resolved. The SOLitude technician, Maxwell, is in control of managing our littoral plants and is very responsive to resolving identified issues.

Peter Dersley

Estero, FL

Improve Your Lake’s Water Quality with SOLitude

I have worked with SOLitude for many years at our HOA with our lakes committee. Our biologist, Christina, has been such an asset to our community from the installation of lake aeration to nutrient mitigation and her positive attitude and professionalism. The entire company is one that I would certainly recommend to any community seeking to improve their lake’s water quality.

Scott DeFilippis

Fort Myers, FL

You Can Count On SOLitude

Christine and SOLitude are the best lake company I have had the privilege of working with as a Property Manager. I do not have to worry about service, fountains, aerators, littorals, or most importantly weed infestation on lake banks. I have been in the business for over 10 years and if the property is one Christine is in charge of with SOLitude, you can count on them running things very professionally. Absolute 5-star treatment.

Marty Sullivan

Property Manager, Naples, FL

Invasive Weeds Are Under Control

We have been using SOLitude’s services for the past three years for managing the neighborhood lake. Their service is excellent. All type of weeds including water hyacinth is now under control without harming the marine ecosystem. The technician who services the lake always makes sure all individual complaints of the resident are taken care of. Will definitely recommend their service, especially for big ponds and lakes.

Paromita Ganguly

Palm Harbor, FL

Managed Invasive Plant In 45-Acre Lake

Thomas has been my service tech over the last year helping to manage our 45-acre lake’s problem of dealing with horribly invasive water hyacinths. Thomas is professional, courteous, and knows his profession well. I look forward to continuing to work with him and SOLitude next year and moving forward.

Jeff Mioduszewski

Community Representative, Clearwater, FL

Experts In Stormwater Pond Management

SOLitude has been our stormwater management company for 6+ years. John is our Business Development Consultant and Greg is our primary point of contact. Greg is an exceptional person and is diligent in maintaining healthy, functioning stormwater management for our HOA. I would recommend SOLitude for their expertise in maintenance for Stormwater Management in your community.

Karen Fleck

HOA President, Lewes, DE

Helped Restore Community Pond

These guys are great. Every time I stop them to ask what they are doing they are very polite and knowledgeable. Before we had them in our community our ponds were loaded with scum. Keep up the good work!

William Smith

Community Member, DE

From Swap to Beautiful, Clear Pond

For about 30 years I watched the encroachment of weeds across my pond, limiting not only our recreational use but our aesthetic appreciation as well. SOLitude Lake Management came in with their hydro-raking harvester and clear it all out! It was the first time I could swim across the entire pond! No swamp, just beautiful water that passers-by slow down to look at.

Dean Jacques

Private Landowner, Chester, CT

Successfully Eradicated Hydrilla

I’ve been battling Hydrilla milfoil for a number of years, without great success. I stumbled across SOLitude Lake Management online and I’m so glad I did! Noel and his team of professionals listened to our problem, gave advice, and developed a management plan for our lake. They applied a very thorough milfoil-specific treatment and now, all of the visible weed is eradicated! I wish I would’ve found this company years ago! I would highly recommend anyone who is looking for a team to help with any lake weed issues.

Shawn Ridgley

Private Landowner, Grand Junction, CO

Recommendations Are Thoughtful & Achievable

Erin and the rest of the SOLitude crew do a fantastic job monitoring water quality and algae growth. Erin used environmentally friendly products to control both the algae and maintain water quality with great success. Site visits are as promised and reports are clear and concise and recommendations are always thoughtful and achievable. We appreciate the effort by Erin and the other SOLitude staff that support our effort.

Terrence Larson

Colorado

I Suggest You Call SOLitude

SOLitude was very professional and understood the budget constraints that we have at our community center and lake. They proposed properly sized solutions to help us solve the algae problems in our lake. The staff was great to work with – I suggest you call them.

Chris Jorgensen

Colorado Springs, CO

Healthy Water Quality & Fish

SOLitude has been managing our lake for the past two years. Through their efforts, the lake’s water quality has improved tremendously. Even with one of the hottest and dryest seasons I received nothing but compliments on the water clarity as well as positive feedback from fishermen about the abundance of healthy fish.

Darren Brooks

District Manager, Parker, CO

Leslie Is One of the Best!

Leslie listened to my needs and concerns, she didn’t offer a fix until she surveyed the lake. It was refreshing to work with someone who cared enough to listen and plan out the best needs of service. If you’re looking for lake maintenance, she is one of the best! I highly recommend!

Trisha Miller

Property Manager, Glendale, AZ

Extremely Helpful & Friendly Staff

Extremely helpful and friendly staff that is always a pleasure to deal with. I have used this company for over 4 years now and they have provided great service and were able to deal with and correct problems that five other lake management companies were not able to even begin to address. I highly recommend this company for any of your lake service needs.

Private Landowner

Responsive to Our Needs

SOLitude manages our 28 lakes at our Country Club and we have formed a great partnership with them and in particular Christina and Garrett. They are responsive to our needs and take the time to explain their process and ongoing management plans to staff, board members, and owners as well as answer their questions.

Joe Burden

General Manager, Florida

A Pleasure to Work with SOLitude

For the past 2 years as a member of our neighborhood board, I worked personally with Mitchell of SOLitude Lake Management. Our neighborhood has over 40 lakes & ponds. I can honestly say it was a pleasure to work with this vendor. Mitchell provided weekly updates and as our aquatics expert, he helped educate us and assisted in developing a restorative approach to our lake & pond management. It was a pleasure to work with such a knowledgeable representative. Thanks!

Colette Price

Board Member, Florida

We Are In Good Hands with SOLitude

We were presented with the challenge of dealing with our stormwater basin, which is regulated by EPA standards that we were not familiar with. SOLitude came in and guided us through the entire process. Our basin went from an eyesore to a spectacular main selling point for our community. We are in good hands with SOLitude and cannot thank them enough!

Dawn Crawford

HOA President, PA

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