Ponder These Thoughts: Fall Lake and Pond Management Tips
SOLitude Lake Management wants you to be prepared for the Autumn season and all of the wonderful cool weather it brings. With this in mind, we recommend you consider the following tips as you enjoy the colorful fall months on your lake or pond:
- Fall is a good time to think about repairing and maintaining the areas around your lake or pond. Be sure to trim the buffer zone and make certain that it is free of woody vegetation. Repair any eroded areas around your waterbody before they become major issues. Erosion repair can easily be done in the fall months when you can plant and seed the areas to allow for soil stabilization.
- Schedule a bathymetric study as well as a structural inspection of your lake or pond. This will allow for proper budgeting for future pond dredging and repair of any physical problems with your waterbody and its related structures.
- Falling leaves and other yard debris may blow into your lake or pond. Try to keep leaves, clippings and other debris out of the waterbody and the ditches and storm drains that lead to it, as this adds nutrients that could lead to the growth of algae and other nuisance vegetation.
- If your lake or pond has a floating fountain, now is the perfect time to schedule an Oil and Seals service which should be performed every three years. For those who live in colder climates, you may desire removal and winter storage for your fountain. If so, this should be completed by early December.
- For those considering hydro-raking as a solution for removal of aquatic vegetation and accumulated debris, fall and winter are the ideal time for this service (in areas that don’t get a hard freeze).
- Liming is an important method of correcting many water quality issues, as well as helping to improve fish productivity in ponds. This process, if needed, should be done in the fall or winter.
- Fall is a great time to stock rainbow trout. Trout serve as a very entertaining fish to catch and will survive in ponds during the fall, winter, and spring months. During this time, they transform your warm water fishery into a fun and entertaining cold water fishery that everyone can enjoy.
Who We Are
SOLitude Lake Management is committed to providing full service lake and pond management solutions that improve water quality, preserve natural resources, and reduce our environmental footprint. Our services include lake, pond and fisheries management programs, algae and aquatic weed control, mechanical harvesting, hydro-raking, installation and maintenance of fountains and aeration systems, water quality testing and restoration, bathymetry, lake vegetation studies, biological assessments, habitat assessments, invasive species management and nuisance wildlife management. Services, consulting and aquatic products 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, parks, and state and federal agencies. Learn more about SOLitude Lake Management and purchase products at www.solitudelakemanagement.com.
