Lake, stormwater pond, wetland and fisheries management is a complex field full of surprising puzzles and never-ending challenges. Effective management of our water resources depends on many different factors, making it critically important to understand the unique characteristics of your waterbody and identify how these elements can change over time. This is where data comes in. Modern tools and technologies have enabled freshwater management scientists to gain deeper insights into the unique physical, chemical and biological components in your waterbody and make more informed decisions about your management approach.

There are many different data gathering tools; some of the most widely-used are water quality assessments, bathymetric mapping and electrofishing. Your lake management professional may utilize some or all of these methods depending on your goals and budget. Each method provides vital information that simply cannot be determined with visual inspections.

Written by Robert Truax, Environmental Scientist

This property is a community located in the greater Scottsdale, AZ area. The community lies within the Indian Bend Wash, an oasis of parks, waterbodies, paths and golf courses traversing 11 miles through the heart of Scottsdale. As a master planned community, it boasts and demands a premium level of quality in every facet of community life, including the 10 lakes and ponds that are encompassed by the property.

In recent years, a three-lake system on the property had been plagued by a rare form of algae called Botryococcus braunii. These particular algae out-compete other algae species by altering surrounding bacteria to benefit itself, while using available phosphorus to replicate in high numbers. The result of the bloom is an oil-like slick on the surface of the water that is caused by the high amounts of hydrocarbons that the algae produces. This can be quite disturbing and foul smelling to local residents. Blooms such as these can also be detrimental to surrounding fish populations and other aquatic species.

Through SOLitude’s corporate volunteering and community outreach program, The SOLution, the company has named Aquatic Biologist Ean Sims of Fort Myers, FL, as Volunteer of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2020. Ean helped lead many impactful volunteering initiatives from April through June.

As an active member of The SOLution program, Ean plays an important role in identifying volunteering efforts for SOLitude’s Southwest, FL, office. He stepped up immensely at the start of the COVID-19 crisis and rallied his family and colleagues to contribute their time and support to frontline workers.

Snyder far (right), pictured with members of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

SOLitude Lake Management is honored to announce that Regional Administrator Becky Snyder of Shrewsbury, MA, has been nationally recognized for her lifelong commitment and passion for volunteering. Snyder was recently awarded by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to community service. Founded in 1990 by George H.W. Bush, Points of Light aims to uplift individuals who give their time, talent, voice and resources to make a difference in their communities. Award recipients are chosen for underscoring the organization's mission to inspire and mobilize others to create change.

Written by: Sam Sardes, Weed Science Director, Certified Lake Professional

Summer brings beautiful weather for most of the country, but with the joys of warmer temperatures, we should prepare for our six-legged, winged friends: midges. Midges are an important part of the aquatic food web as many fish rely on them as a primary food source. However, too much of a good thing leads to midges ruining our poolside sunbathing, cookouts and other outdoor activities which is why it’s important to proactively manage their arrival.

Written by industry expert Marc Bellaud, President

Is it alarmist to refer to nutrient loading as a growing dilemma that is threatening our waterways? Not if you work in the lake and pond management industry or have a passion for preserving our aquatic resources. As an Aquatic Biologist who has managed water resources for more than 25 years, I firmly believe nutrient loading is a rising crisis that needs to be dealt with on a national and global scale.

Almost daily, we see news headlines broadcasting dangerous cyanobacteria blooms, red tides, dead zones and algal toxins that degrade water quality, spur massive fish kills and threaten human health. These Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are fueled by nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which enter waterways through stormwater runoff that emerges from livestock facilities, agricultural farms, urban developments, and incidents of excess wastewater discharge.

Written by industry expert Shannon Junior, Aquatic Ecologist and Senior Business Development Consultant

One of the most common questions asked by clients is whether the products that we use to control aquatic weeds and algae in their waterbodies are “safe.” These concerns have become considerably more widespread in light of the recent controversies surrounding the herbicide glyphosate. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation that is circulating, making it difficult to discern the difference between public outcry and peer-reviewed scientific data.

With increased travel and recreation each summer comes the rise of invasive species. Invasive species are plants and wildlife that were introduced to an area that is outside of their natural range of dispersal. Though these invaders are not inherently bad, the general lack of natural competition or predators in our lakes, ponds and wetlands can lead to major outbreaks that dominate quickly and may be very hard to control. As a result, native species can suffer.

Written by Noel Browning, Aquatic Biologist

Have you ever wondered what the bottom of a waterbody truly looks like? With the proper training, equipment and access to modern technology, the accurate mapping of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs is a reality. Uncovering the mystery of ‘what lies below’ is an essential part of quality baseline data and an important tool in effective management. The true volume, depths, and contours of a waterbody is invaluable data that helps inform many freshwater management approaches. Here are the top five ways that professional lake mapping data can be utilized to help improve your freshwater management strategy:

Frontline workers, including healthcare professionals, emergency responders, and other essential employees, have served their communities selflessly during the coronavirus pandemic. To recognize their exceptional efforts in this time of need, SOLitude Lake Management has helped launch the Hometown Heroes program.

Through this new program, SOLitude's team of freshwater management professionals delivered care packages to deserving healthcare, childcare, senior living, and military organizations in their local communities across Florida, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Colorado and Arizona. Each package contained handwritten notes, entertainment and restaurant gift cards, snacks, branded gear and additional goodies. Team members also delivered catered meals to clients and valued partner organizations. In collaboration with SOLitude's parent company, Rentokil, colleagues were able to impact more than 8,100 individuals throughout the nation.