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Choose a Perfect Lake & Pond Aeration System with Bathymetric Mapping

December 3rd, 2019

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One of the great tools in a lake manager’s tool box is the use of submersed aeration. Sub­mersed lake and pond aeration adds oxy­gen directly into the water column and involves the mixing of water to increase exposure to atmospheric oxygen, thus, decreasing harmful gases like hydrogen sulfide with in the waterbody. This proactive management solution significantly helps promote positive changes in lakes and ponds; however, aeration sys­tems must be properly sized and placed in order for aquatic ecosystems to fully reap the benefits. Surface mapping used in con­junction with depth-sensing technology, such as bathymetry, can help determine the correct size and location of aeration systems to ensure the entire waterbody is receiving adequate oxygenation. 

Submersed pond aerators use diffused air to push water from the bottom of the pond to the surface, where it can be exposed to the atmosphere. The water on the surface then gets displaced and driven down to the bottom of the pond, creating circulation and mixing from top to bottom. This mixing creates a more uniform and oxygenated body of water.

Why is it important to increase oxygen levels in your pond? The amount of oxy­gen in a waterbody can drive the type of organisms that live within an aquatic environment. Organisms that use oxygen promote a healthy ecosystem. Organisms that thrive in low or no oxygen (anoxic) conditions promote poor water quality and can damage the lake or pond’s health. A waterbody that lacks a properly sized and located pond aerator that will likely have anoxic conditions at depths greater than eight feet deep in the summer months. In this zone, anaerobic bacteria can produce am­monia and hydrogen sulfide which can be toxic to other organisms and give off foul odors. Anoxic conditions can also change a pond’s chemistry, leading to the release of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which can promote nuisance algae growth and other water quality issues.

When determining the perfect aera­tion solution for your waterbody, an aquatic management professional will take into account the shape, various depths and overall volume of a lake or pond. Surface mapping utilizes GPS soft­ware and satellite imagery, which enables a specialist to determine a waterbody’s exact surface area. In turn, bathymetric mapping involves the use of integrated GPS and depth sensing technology to create a three-dimensional model of your waterbody. As a result, this model has detailed bottom contours and highly ac­curate volume calculations. Combined, these tools provide the necessary data to choose and install a submersed aeration system that is customized, and optimized, for your unique property.

With a proper submersed pond aerator in place, you’re on your way to re­storing ecological balance and preventing future water quality problems. It’s impor­tant to note, though, that aeration is only one piece of the puzzle. A comprehensive lake and pond management plan should also include regular water quality testing, nutrient remediation and beneficial vege­tative buffer management to help ensure the ongoing health and longevity of your lake or pond.

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Contact the experts at 888-480-5253 for all of your lake, stormwater pond, wetland and fisheries management needs. 

SOLitude Lake Management is a nationwide environmental firm committed to providing sustainable solutions that improve water quality, enhance beauty, preserve natural resources and reduce our environmental footprint. SOLitude’s team of aquatic resource management professionals specializes in the development and execution of customized lake, stormwater pond, wetland and fisheries management programs that include water quality testing and restoration, nutrient remediation, algae and aquatic weed control, installation and maintenance of fountains and aeration systems, bathymetry, shoreline erosion restoration, mechanical harvesting and hydro-raking, lake vegetation studies, biological assessments, habitat evaluations, and invasive species management. Services and educational resources are available to clients nationwide, including homeowners associations, multi-family and apartment communities, golf courses, commercial developments, ranches, private landowners, reservoirs, recreational and public lakes, municipalities, drinking water authorities, parks, and state and federal agencies. SOLitude Lake Management is a proud member of the Rentokil Steritech family of companies in North America.

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