Written by Industry Expert Matthew Salem, Permit Coordinator and GIS Specialist

As we power through the holidays, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. But before we enter the new year, it’s important to reflect upon our successes and make plans to achieve bigger and better goals. If you own or manage a lake or pond, your goals may include improving aesthetics, enhancing water quality and strengthening the health of your aquatic ecosystem. While many of the strategies used to achieve these goals are implemented in the spring and summer, it’s never too early to get started. In fact, one beneficial and often overlooked tool is lake mapping—and now is the perfect time of year to utilize it!

What is lake mapping?

Lake mapping, or bathymetry, involves the measurements of water depth, volume and amount of collected sediment on the bottom of a waterbody. These parameters can reveal quite a lot about

SOLitude Lake Management is accepting nominations for free lake and pond makeover services through the company’s Love Your Lake program. The annual initiative aims to support non-profit charities and foundations in dire need of recreational lake and pond restoration, with the goal of improving outdoor experiences for disadvantaged or special needs children, disabled individuals, or veterans and servicemembers.

The effort is backed by The SOLution, a company-wide program that strives to “create a better world” be encouraging and practicing volunteerism, community outreach, sustainability and environmental consciousness. SOLitude’s leadership feels it is important to not only be good stewards of the environment, but also to fulfill company core values to “take action and be accountable” and to “protect and respect nature.”

Love Your Lake nominees

Pond ownership is a journey that can prove to be exciting and fun, as well as frustrating and disappointing. The good times are typically fueled by great memories of relaxing on the water or catching fish with family and friends, and the bad times are fueled by something that prevents those good times from happening. As owners, we would like the pond to always provide a high level of entertainment, allowing for a continuous stream of lasting memories as well as a source of excitement and energy that motivates family to draw closer together and enjoy the presence of one another.

Over the years, many private waterbodies that became a pillar of lasting memories start to change. Oftentimes these changes occur slowly, and at times it happens so gradually that the transformation goes unnoticed until the pond or fishery have been altered considerably. When this occurs, it is typical for people to be concerned and take action.

Unfortunately for pond owners, the issues that are often viewed as problems are actually symptoms of the real problem.

Written by Industry Expert Joe Holz, International Sales Manager at Kasco Marine

Winter fish kills are a serious threat to your fish population if you live in the north. If large amounts of snow and ice form on your pond or lake, it can block out sunlight from penetrating into the water. Without sunlight, plants die, thus ceasing to give off oxygen they would produce during photosynthesis. The dead plant material also provides added nourishment for bacteria which also use oxygen. As the winter progresses, the available oxygen in the pond can be used up to a point where fish can suffer.

In the winter, the metabolism of fish will slow down. They move less, eat less, grow less, and use less oxygen. The same goes for bacteria in the pond, the oxygen consumption is lower. However, oxygen levels can drop low enough to cause major problems in a pond if the winter is severe enough. In many cases, the larger trophy fish of a given species will consume more oxygen. Therefore, during low oxygen times, your biggest fish can die.

Luckily, winterkill can be prevented.

Written by Industry Expert Robert Truax, Natural Resources Scientist

Many southern states experienced Torpedograss infestations this year. Torpedograss (Panicum littorale), also known as quack grass and bullet grass, is an invasive species that was first introduced to the United States in 1876 near Mobile, Alabama. It has since spread throughout the South.

Torpedograss is a perennial grass, and the first step to proper control is correctly identifying it. It can grow up to three feet tall and, unlike some grasses, is commonly identified by its creeping rhizomatous root structure and rigid sharp pointed (torpedo-like) tips. Upper leaf sheaths can also have hairs on their upper edges. A unique characteristic used to identify torpedograss are the

For the 6th year, SOLitude Lake Management has been named to Inside Business' Roaring 20 list, which recognizes the twenty fastest-growing companies in Southeastern Virginia based on revenue, employee growth and the significant contributions they make to the local economy.

All winners experienced annual revenue growth from 2015-2017. In the last year, SOLitude has significantly increased gross revenue and added more than 100 new staff members to its team.

Since the company began, SOLitude has grown a presence in more than 30 states across the country and continues to expand to new regions, including California and Arizona.

In an interview with Inside Business, SOLitude CEO Kevin Tucker recalled the

This season, SOLitude Lake Management is proud to announce that the company served a record number of families through the Little GOBBLERs program this month. This annual program provides food and donations to ensure families across the country are able to celebrate Thanksgiving.

SOLitude, an industry leader in lake, stormwater pond, wetland and fisheries management, donated $7,475 in turkeys and grocery store gift cards to 310 under-resourced families

Written by Industry Expert Lance Dohman, Regional Manager 

Virtually all explanations of dredging include the physical scooping up of underwater sand and clay sediments to enhance a merchant ship’s access to a port or waterway. If these waterways become inaccessible, the economic consequences are far reaching.

Today, however, massive algal blooms, animal fatalities from toxic byproducts of algae and the spread of invasive plants and animals are sharing the front-page news with national economic interests. For those of us living on a waterbody, it’s clear that our personal economic interests are rewarded via higher property values if the nearby water is both navigable and healthy. As a waterbody ages and becomes “silted-in,” organic nutrients fuel invasive plant and algae growth, and property owners suffer the consequences of bright green water, fish kills and dangerous swimming conditions. Unfortunately, the solution to these rampant biological problems involves

Written by Industry Expert Dave Beasley, Fisheries Biologist & Director of Fisheries 

When picturing a perfect day on the water, do you envision the warm sun on your face with a gentle breeze in the air and the relaxing sound of small waves rolling against the shoreline? Or is it the sound of children laughing as they play with a bullfrog being held captive by their curiosity? Maybe it’s the anticipation of the next trophy fish you will catch as you pursue another lasting memory on the water. Regardless, lake and pond owners don’t need to look far to find motivation.

Unfortunately for many property owners, the achievement of goals is not easy, and the path can become plagued with struggles that negatively impact the desired outcome. This is because each aquatic resource is a complex system that experiences continuous physical and chemical changes. As a result, each waterbody is at a unique place in time relative to its own historical experiences. Due to this, people run the risk of making assumptions and drawing conclusions from their past experiences, rather than gathering the facts required to make the right decisions.

To successfully manage lakes, ponds and fisheries, you must first

With the holidays on the horizon, SOLitude is gearing up for another year of community outreach. Through the company's annual HOLiday Cheer program, we are seeking nominations from our clients, followers and industry partners to help families who have fallen on hard times this season.

Nominate a Family In Need

The HOLiday Cheer program allows us to help bring some much-needed joy to deserving children and families who are suffering physically, financially and emotionally. Like years past, we will select families who