Written by: David Cottrell, District Manager and Botanist

I recently met with a client who recounted a story of a lakefront cookout that was plagued by thousands of swarming insects. The culprits were midge flies and they created a terrible nuisance as neighbors tried to enjoy a beautiful evening together in Northeast Florida. The midges covered all surfaces, including—to the horror of the hosts—the freshly melted cheese adorning their juicy grilled burgers… pizza anyone? The client has a lot of fun with this story now, but the sad reality was that the beautiful setting which attracted them to their fantastic neighborhood was ruined during midge season. Unfortunately, in some parts of the country like Florida, midge fly infestations can last for the majority of the year!

There are two common groups of midges that cause headaches for many waterfront residents. One is often referred to as the bloodworm midge and the other as the phantom or ghost midge. Both groups get their name from their appearance in the larval stage of their lifecycle. While it’s reassuring to know that midges do not bite or spread disease like mosquitoes, they can have a significant impact on the enjoyment of outdoor spaces; they create a mess to clean up, mar painted surfaces, and may even cause problems for asthma sufferers.

A Florida community in the Greater Tampa area is home to a bird rookery, giving it an up close look at the unique species that call the property home. Wood storks, great egrets, snowy egrets, great blue herons and white ibis are enjoyed by residents and local bird watchers alike. However, this exciting window into nature is accompanied by a severe nutrient loading problem. Over the years, watershed inputs, recurring bird feedings, and bird droppings from the trees above the 2-acre community pond have created imbalanced water quality conditions that support the growth of unrelenting algae and cyanobacteria blooms. In addition to causing an eyesore, these harmful blooms are known to create toxins that can threaten the rare wildlife and endanger the health of community members.

The bird species that live on the property are protected, making long-term management of the undesirable blooms a challenge. The community chooses to avoid many traditional solutions to ensure the natural characteristics of the ecosystem are maintained year-round. Often, this commitment means sacrificing the aesthetic beauty of the property. However, in 2019, SOLitude Lake Management introduced an alternative option to the community - one that aligns with the environmental principles of the residents while also nurturing the health and appearance of the aquatic environment.

Multiple aquatics industry professionals from SOLitude Lake Management, an industry leader in lake, pond and wetland management, fisheries management and related environmental services for the United States, were recently awarded for their accomplishments in the sustainable management of public and private aquatic resources. SePRO Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of high quality, environmentally responsible solutions for aquatic plant management announced the news during their annual conference in August.

Five SOLitude team members received SePRO’s “Seeing Is Believing” award, which recognizes the highest standard of excellence in water quality management for lakes, ponds, stormwater retention ponds or other waterbodies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of SePRO products. Award submissions consisted of a case study documenting a technical program for nuisance aquatic weed and algae control, a detailed treatment summary for the waterbody, project results, before and after photos, and client satisfaction reports.

SOLitude Lake Management, an industry leader in lake and pond management, fisheries management and related environmental services for the United States, is pleased to announce Biologist Matt Ward was named by AquaFix, Inc. as their Research and Case History Program winner for 2016.

A leading international expert in the development of bacteria and enzyme products for the management of fresh waterbodies, AquaFix, Inc. recognizes industry professionals for their project achievements through its Research and Case History Program. Case study projects from the nation’s top aquatic professionals are judged according to a combination of factors, including data quality, clarity, images and creativity, and winners are featured in AquaFix’s 2017 Natural Lake Catalog.

Written by Industry Expert, Michael Lennon, Senior Biologist and Territory Leader

Aquatic herbicides and algaecides, as their names suggest, are used to manage plants and algae in aquatic ecosystems. They are an important tool for aquatic resource management, and often offer the most efficient and cost effective solution for managing undesirable plant and/or algae growth in a waterbody.

Despite widespread use, aquatic herbicides and algaecides are highly regulated. All U.S. EPA approved aquatic-use pesticides are subject to extensive testing to evaluate their effectiveness on target and non-target organisms, persistence in the environment and threats to public health. To achieve EPA registration, aquatic herbicides must meet rigid environmental and toxicology criteria. Required testing for aquatic pesticide registration is considerably more rigorous than their terrestrial counterparts, requiring evaluation of roughly 150 unique tests. Due to strict testing requirements, registration generally takes years of research before a new chemical compound can be approved by the EPA. Currently, there are only 14 EPA approved active ingredients that can be used in aquatic herbicides and algaecides. Various formulations and concentrations of these 14 ingredients constitute all approved aquatic herbicides and algaecides available for use in the US.

Written by Industry Expert Shannon Junior, Aquatic Ecologist

As part of SOLitude Lake Management’s dedication to Integrated Pest Management strategies, we are constantly searching for new and environmentally sustainable practices that will reduce the quantity of aquatic herbicides that we apply to waterbodies, while still achieving the goals of our clients to have healthy and attractive ponds and lakes. Our firm works diligently to develop improved lake management strategies, working hand in hand with manufacturers to provide field research for new product development. We are always eager to try new technologies, and to incorporate them into our management programs when we find successful new products.

By Industry Expert Marcus Harris, Fisheries Biologist 

Toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie made national news this summer. It may not have affected you at all, but if you have a lake or pond on your property, toxic algae is something you need to be aware of. Blue-green algae is not an uncommon occurrence during the heat of the summer and with it comes the chance for toxic species. Toxins are produced and released by certain species and can make humans and animals very sick if they ingest water containing these toxins.

One of the more effective ways to combat this type of algae is to install a SonicSolutions device. This device uses ultrasonic waves to break vesicles inside the cells. These vesicles are used by the algae to control buoyancy. When they are broken, the algae sinks to the bottom and dies.

Excess nutrients and phosphorus in freshwater lead to poor pond water quality and recurring algae blooms. Phoslock permanently binds with available phosphorus in your water so that it is unavailable to fuel algae growth. Biological products, like beneficial aerobic bacteria, feed on excess nutrients in the water column, as well as the sludge on the bottom of your lake or pond, removing these potential sources for algae growth and improving water quality, clarity, and odor. Improve your water quality with products like Phoslock, Aquafix Nature's Liquid Balance and SOLitude's own, SOLICLEAR.

Purchase Phoslock, Biologicals and other aquatic products for your lakes and ponds by visiting our online store.

SOLitude Lake Management, an industry leader in lake and pond management, fisheries management and related environmental services for the Eastern United States, is pleased to announce that for the fourth consecutive year it has ranked as the 2nd largest distributor of AquaMaster Fountains and Aerators, both in the United States and Internationally. Additionally, photos of three SOLitude projects won the 2014 AquaMaster Calendar Contest and four more were awarded representation in this year’s calendar featuring dazzling shots of fountains in healthy waterbodies.