SOLitude Lake Management is pleased to share the impact of the company's first ever Heart & SOL Day, which took place on Friday, Nov. 22. This day of volunteering and community service aimed to inspire community members, homeowners and businesses throughout the country to contribute to charitable causes they care about. SOLitude's 445 colleagues were also empowered to volunteer during work hours. 

Across SOLitude's 35+ nationwide offices, participants volunteered 423 total hours on Heart & SOL Day by contributing to trash clean-ups, food banks, animal sanctuaries, Cardz for Kidz, Habitat for Humanity builds, tree plantings and more. Click to view photos and details about these efforts.

This season, SOLitude Lake Management is proud to announce that the company served nearly 300 families through the Little GOBBLERs program. This annual program provides food and donations to ensure families across the country, within the local communities we serve, are able to celebrate Thanksgiving.

SOLitude, an industry leader in lake, stormwater pond, wetland and fisheries management solutions, donated $7,075 in turkeys and grocery gift cards to 292 deserving families in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Colorado, Arizona, Texas and Florida.

SOLitude worked with 32 elementary, middle and high schools in each of these regions to identify families in need. School principals and guidance counselors collected the donated items from SOLitude on behalf of the families and ensured they were distributed appropriately. Since the inception of the Little GOBBLERs program in 2012, SOLitude has donated $35,850 and helped more than 1,600 children and families have a happier Thanksgiving.

Two leading freshwater management companies have united under the SOLitude Lake Management® brand. Aquatic Systems, Inc. (ASI) was acquired by SOLitude in January 2019. All company service offerings and infrastructure were officially unified this month.

The rebranding of Aquatic Systems expands SOLitude's existing operations across 12 Florida offices. Outside of Florida, SOLitude manages aquatic resources in 35 states. SOLitude is the nation's largest freshwater management firm specializing in sustainable, proactive solutions for communities, golf courses, municipalities, commercial developers and private landowners.

Established in 1977, Aquatic Systems was an industry leading freshwater resource manager in Florida for over four decades. The company provided eco-friendly wetland and preserve management services, shoreline aquascaping and stabilization, water quality restoration, midge fly assessments, research, consulting and more.

Through SOLitude’s corporate volunteering and community outreach program, The SOLution, the company has named Digital Marketing Specialist Ysabella Bhagroo of Virginia Beach as Volunteer of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2019. Bella has been active through various volunteering and youth events from July through September.

Bella (second from right) volunteered for Habitat for Humanity with her Virginia Beach colleagues. The team helped frame the first floor of a home being built for a family in need. Through the program, home recipients are provided the tools they need to be successful homeowners.

Bella also volunteered extensively through different youth and student efforts. She served as an area representative for Youth For Understanding, an organization that works with international foreign exchange students and their host families. She continued her efforts through

SOLitude Lake Management is pleased to officially welcome six of its newest hires to the company’s growing team. These accomplished professionals, spanning from the Northeast to the West, bring extensive experience and a passion for restoring the health and beauty of aquatic ecosystems in their local communities.

Jameson Bastarche is an environmental scientist based out of Shrewsbury, MA. He specializes in the development of aquatic management plans that prioritize the ecological health of aquatic ecosystems. He is also experienced in conducting large-scale alum treatments using specialized equipment. He has assisted with many high-profile nutrient remediation projects across New England. Jameson earned a degree in Environmental Science from Worcester State University. 

Mike Didier is an environmental scientist based out of Shrewsbury, MA. He has a particular expertise in water quality sampling and dissolved oxygen meter testing. He is also experienced with fountain and aeration installations, and is one of the first people in the country to install nanobubble aeration systems in lakes and ponds for the treatment of Harmful Algal Blooms. Mike graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Environmental Conservation.

Through SOLitude's volunteering and community outreach program, The SOLution, the company has named Assistant Regional Manager Errol Walsh and Aquatic Specialist Scott Dye as co-Volunteers of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2019. Based in Central Florida, the two have been active through recurring volunteer initiatives benefiting their local community of Seminole County.

During the second quarter, Errol and Scott have volunteered extensively during weekends and in their personal time with the Seminole Education, Restoration, and Volunteer (SERV) Program, an organization that partners with local biologists, lake residents, and students to complete invasive species pulls, shoreline stabilization projects and other environmental restoration efforts. Collectively, Errol and Scott participated in seven events.

SOLitude Lake Management is pleased to officially welcome six of its newest hires to the company’s growing team. These accomplished professionals, spanning from the Northeast to the West, bring extensive experience and a passion for restoring the health and beauty of aquatic ecosystems in their local communities.

Lauren Malinis is an environmental scientist in Benicia, CA. She specializes in monitoring aquatic ecosystems and providing sustainable solutions that achieve the long-term goals of her clients. She is a knowledgeable resource with an array of industry experience and achievements. Lauren earned a degree in Environmental Science with a focus on Marine and Coastal Ecology at California State University Monterey Bay.

Zachary Cartwright is a fisheries scientist based out of Chesapeake, VA. He assists clients with the environmentally-sustainable management of their aquatic ecosystems throughout the region. He specializes in the installation and maintenance of floating fountains and aeration systems, managing aquatic vegetation and restoring water quality. Zachary earned his degree in Fisheries Conservation from Virginia Tech.

With the goal of making the management of our precious lakes, stormwater ponds, wetlands and fisheries more effective and more eco-friendly than ever, SOLitude Lake Management, the largest aquatic management firm in the nation, has published a wealth of new and enhanced information covering all aspects of aquatic management.

The 8 industry reports comprise the collective knowledge and insights of SOLitude's nationwide team of biologists, ecologists and environmental scientists, many of whom hold Master's degrees and PhDs in their respective subject areas. They also include exclusive information about recent technologies and advancements in the aquatic management industry, including nanobubble aeration, bio-engineered shorelines, highly-selective herbicides and more. 

By releasing this information for free to the public, SOLitude aims to show that the sustainable management of aquatic resources is both attainable and budget-friendly when supported by proactive techniques and the expertise of professionals.

SOLitude is pleased to announce the contribution of the first ever SOLitude Lake Management Graduate Study Award through SUNY Oneonta (State University of New York College). SOLitude’s $1,000 gift was awarded to graduate student David Andrews during the College’s Biology Department awards ceremony in April. Andrews recently graduated with a Master of Science degree in Lake Management. Another $1,000 was donated to support the Lake Management program, bringing SOLitude's total contribution to $2,000.

"The Lake Management program at SUNY Oneonta afforded me an incredible opportunity to learn in the field and gain knowledge and skills that will guide me for the rest of my career," Andrews said. "Donors like SOLitude Lake Management help make the program possible. Thank you for supporting future lake managers!"

SUNY is the only college in the United States that offers a master’s program in Lake Management. As part of the master's program, degree recipients meet the requirements to apply for the prestigious designation of Certified Lake Manager (CLM) by the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), an organization that brings scientists and professionals together to foster the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs.

Several of SOLitude's experienced scientists are alumni of the master's program, including Derek Johnson, the first person, internationally, to earn a degree in Lake Management.

SOLitude Lake Management is pleased to officially welcome seven of its newest hires to the company’s growing team. These accomplished professionals, spanning from the Mid-Atlantic to the West, bring extensive experience and a passion for restoring the health and beauty of aquatic ecosystems in their local communities.

Noel Browning is an Aquatic Biologist based out of Denver, CO. He has diverse experience managing valuable aquatic resources through creative and solution-based strategies based on sound scientific data. Noel earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Colorado University in Gunnison and is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Water Resource Management from California State Fresno.

Nick Hanna is an Environmental Scientist in Manassas, VA. He specializes in helping clients achieve their long-term aquatic management goals while ensuring the health and ecological balance of the ecosystem is maintained. Nick graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and a concentration in Human and Ecosystem Response to Climate Change.