Lake Management for Florida

Littoral zone maintenance

Lake and Pond Management Tips For Florida's Dry Season

Proper management of your Florida wetland, fishery, lake, or pond during the winter months will get you closer to your freshwater goals come spring. From shoreline restoration and nutrient binding to clearing out pond weeds and installing a beautiful fountain or submersed aeration system, now is the time to take action to ensure your waterbody is in proper health when warmer weather returns.

Shoreline Restoration

The lack of rain during the winter season means water levels in lakes and ponds often drop. Take advantage of this timeframe to repair damaged shorelines using patented knitted mesh systems. This new mesh technology can be used to create a long-lasting sediment containment barrier around the water that provides up to four feet of shoreline protection for more than 10 years. And don’t forget to schedule your spring buffer plantings now to take place between March and June.

Nutrient Remediation

The dry season is an ideal time for nutrient remediation using Phoslock, Alum (aluminum sulfate) or Biochar, which are used to eliminate excess nutrients from the water column, thus reducing future aquatic plant and algae growth. The lack of rain during this time will help ensure these nutrient remediation materials are not be diluted or washed out of the pond before binding with nutrients. The lack of rain will also reduce the amount of nutrient-rich plant trimmings and fertilizers introduced into the pond by stormwater runoff.

Plant Removal

The winter months are the best time to manage or clear out invasive plants like Brazilian Pepper, Melaleuca, Chinese Tallow and Peruvian Primrose Willow. Likewise, a reduction in boating and recreation offers more opportunities for submersed plant removal via mechanical harvesting or hydro-raking. Though the days are shorter, the weather is more moderate, allowing crews to work longer and more efficiently.

Bathymetric Mapping

Accurate knowledge of water volumes and depths are essential for managing your lake or pond properly. From designing a water quality monitoring program to introducing an aeration system, many aquatic resource tools depend heavily on the accuracy of your bathymetric map, a technology that reads and records the terrain of your lake or pond. Slower plant growth and reduced recreation during winter months allows increased boat access and more accurate mapping across your property.

Fish Stocking

Fisheries management is very temperature driven. In addition to being less stressful on lake and pond management crews, the dry season weather is also less stressful on fish. Colder water contains more oxygen, making the winter months more favorable for electrofishing surveys and fish stocking. Consider introducing Triploid Grass Carp for natural vegetation control, mosquitofish for midge and mosquito control, and Bluegill for fishing fun. Because their natural predators are less active in the cooler weather, these fish will have all winter to establish their populations.

Introduce Aeration

No matter where you live, installing an aeration system in the summer should be avoided or done with great caution. This is because akes and ponds experience stratification when weather is warm and sunny. Turning on an aeration system during this time means rapidly mixing oxygen-rich water at the bottom of the aquatic resource with the oxygen-deprived water near the surface, which can stress aquatic organisms and cause fish kills. In the dry season, however, most lakes will contain sufficient oxygen levels throughout the water column. The installation of an aeration system during this time will provide lasting benefits to your aquatic resource without negatively impacting the creatures that call it home. Aeration systems can also be paired with nanobubble technology for added benefits.

Perform Maintenance on Floating Fountains

The off-season is the best time to consider scheduling critical maintenance and “TLC” for your fountain, such as an oil and seals maintenance service. This important fountain maintenance task will ensure that your seals are working as designed, preventing any water from leaking into the unit, and that your pond fountain is running with clean oil. The oil and seals service includes performing an internal inspection of the power unit (motor and related parts), making any necessary adjustments, replacing any worn parts, and changing the oil, rotary shaft seal, and all related parts. Changing the oil in your fountain works much like changing the oil in your car: the cleaner the oil, the smoother it runs.

Pond Liming

Depending on where you live, winter lime applications may be extremely beneficial for your lake, pond or fishery by making water quality more conducive to the development of fish and other aquatic organisms. This is an especially common practice in Texas and regions where soils are overly acidic. Because limestone can take several weeks to fully impact water pH, applications during the cooler months can help you get a head start on the achievement of your waterbody goals for the coming year.

Native aquatic plants growing along a community pond shoreline with residential homes in the background

Get Started On A Customized Management Plan

The dry season may seem like a time when lake and pond maintenance can be put on the backburner, but the decisions you make now can have an enormous impact on your experience come spring. No matter where you live, aquatic resource management is a year-round endeavor. Contact your lake management professional today to get started on your winter maintenance plan.

Very Pleased With Their Service for Years

We’ve been a client of SOLitude Lake Management for many years and are very pleased with their service. The staff that takes care of our pond is very knowledgeable and always very professional. They always tell us what has been treated and what to look for.

Connie C.

Property Owner, Brooksville, FL

Everything I Could Want in a Lake Management Partner

SOLitude services a good portion of the communities I manage. Excellent customer service, and they go above and beyond with lake maintenance at a great price. All you could ever want in a lake vendor!

Madison F.

Community Association Manager, Jacksonville, FL

They Stay on Top of Issues Before They Become Problems

Our SOLitude technician has been doing a wonderful job servicing our lake. He is very attentive and proactive when observing issues. He also regularly provides status updates and feedback.

Kurt K.

Property Owner, Largo, FL

Five Years Later and We’re Still Happy

SOLitude has serviced my pond for over 5 years, and it has been under control since they took over the service. I am very satisfied with the service and cost.

Mike Y.

Property Owner, Port Orange, FL

Always on Time and Easy to Communicate With

The company has been serving our association for a long time. Always on time. Good service and communication.

Villas de Venezia Condominium

Manager, Sunrise, FL

We Truly Appreciate the Quality of Their Work

We have been using SOLitude Lake Management since 2019 for the two lakes in our community, and the service has been excellent. Our lakes are healthy, well-maintained, and in great shape thanks to their professional and reliable team. We truly appreciate the quality of their work and highly recommend their services.

Julia P.

Board Member, North Fort Myers, FL

Very Professional Responsive and Reasonably Priced

We use SOLitude Lake Management for all of the ponds in our community, and they do an amazing job! Very professional, responsive, and reasonably priced. I highly recommend using them as your lake management company.

Kate

Community Member, Lutz, FL

One of the Few HOA Vendors I Completely Trust

They do their job with a calm confidence each month. One of the few HOA vendors I completely trust.

Burt B.

Community Member, Sarasota, FL

Responsive to Our Needs

SOLitude manages our 28 lakes at our Country Club and we have formed a great partnership with them and in particular Christina and Garrett. They are responsive to our needs and take the time to explain their process and ongoing management plans to staff, board members, and owners as well as answer their questions.

Joe Burden

General Manager, Florida

A Pleasure to Work with SOLitude

For the past 2 years as a member of our neighborhood board, I worked personally with Mitchell of SOLitude Lake Management. Our neighborhood has over 40 lakes & ponds. I can honestly say it was a pleasure to work with this vendor. Mitchell provided weekly updates and as our aquatics expert, he helped educate us and assisted in developing a restorative approach to our lake & pond management. It was a pleasure to work with such a knowledgeable representative. Thanks!

Colette Price

Board Member, Florida

They Consistently Exceed Expectations

Can’t say enough about this company… professional, thorough, personable, and exceeds expectations!

Faye A.

Property Owner, Venice, FL

Great Service After Every Site Visit

As a Community Association Manager, I work with many vendors, and SOLitude Lake Management provides great service and detailed reports after each site visit. Great job!!

Jynell M.

Community Association Manager, Jacksonville, FL

Our Neighborhood Ponds Make a Great First Impression

SOLitude Lake Management cares for the ponds in my neighborhood in Fernandina Beach, FL. The ponds are always pristine and make an impressive entrance to the neighborhood. I would highly recommend this company!

Jimmy

Community Member, Fernandina Beach, FL

They Resolved the Issues I Was Having

I am impressed with the service received from SOLitude Lake Management. Adam Grayson responded and resolved the issues I was having. His commitment and follow-up have been extremely helpful. The technician, Jeremy Kuchta, made sure to meet with me personally. I appreciate his passion for his profession. I would happily recommend their services.

Shanda T.

Manager, Jacksonville, FL

Removing Years of Buildup Helped Bring Wildlife Back

Our site has been clogged for years and is finally feeling like a lake again. It’s been slow going, but birds and fish are able to enjoy the open water again, so I know the treatments have not endangered the wildlife.

Marihelen W.

Property Owner, Gainesville, FL

They Truly Care About Their Customers

David Boren with SOLitude Lake Management went above and beyond caring for our pond. He truly cares about his work and making his customers happy. Highly recommend!

Jayne E.

Property Owner, Palm City, FL

They Take Care of Every Problem We Throw at Them

Fantastic company! Scott and Taylor go above and beyond for our community of luxury homes! They address all my problems and are always professional! I recommend SOLitude Lake Management!

Yvonne W.

Board Member, Sanford, FL

Our Lake Looks Great!

SOLitude’s technician, Ian, is always pleasant and informative. He always calls me to update me on what was performed and if something else is needed. I have had many positive comments from other owners in my community regarding how great our lake looks. Thanks for the service.

Doug B.

Florida

Professional & Knowledgeable

Working with SOLitude has been a great experience! Their professionalism, knowledge, response, and timing are the qualities that will give you peace of mind.

Rosa Nieves

Community Association Manager, Florida

Our New Fountain Looks Great

Andrew and SOLitude installed a new fountain behind the clubhouse in our community and did a great job. Very efficient, and the fountain looks great! Definitely would recommend them.

Millennia Park

Community Member, Sanford, FL

Our Fountains Spray Like New Again

As the property manager for a condominium association, I am very happy with the work SOLitude Lake Management provides on our community lake equipment. The team keeps our fountains operating properly, prevents issues with clogging, and ensures everything is well-maintained. The equipment looks and performs like new, and it is clear they take pride in their work. Highly recommend!

Arturo V.

Community Member, Kissimmee, FL

More Than Just Fountain Maintenance

My interaction with the staff has been outstanding. My point of contact, Andrew, always goes above and beyond and has educated me on the operation of fountains, etc. Truly grateful for the superior customer service.

Debra Z.

Manager, Sanford, FL

Reliable Lake and Fountain Maintenance

Andrew is responsive, professional, and knowledgeable. I would recommend him and SOLitude to other associations seeking reliable lake and fountain maintenance.

Shannon S.

Manager, Sanford, FL

Keep Our Community Fountains Looking Their Best

We’ve been using SOLitude at our community for a few years now. They are always very responsive and quick to come out when we have any issues. Chris was able to get out to the property the next day to unclog our fountains, which is huge for helping us maintain our community aesthetics.

Evan H.

Property Manager, Orlando, FL

New Fountains Are A Beautiful Community Feature

I am the president of an HOA that SOLitude Lake Management services. We have had new fountains put in with a very nice light that changes colors, along with regular maintenance done on the lake itself and the three fountains we have in the neighborhood. Andrew is very quick to respond and keep us updated on the progress. He is always very personable and helpful. Would recommend them to anyone.

Vicki V.

HOA President, Sanford, FL

Their Expertise Keeps Our HOA Fountain Running

SOLitude all around provides quick-response service and is very professional. We had service done recently by Andrew, who was efficient, knowledgeable, and professional. Thank you. I highly recommend them. They have kept our ancient HOA fountain running!

Kelly T.

President, Melbourne, FL

Removed the Cattails Without Harming Our Native Plants

Eric Capostagno is a fabulous technician. I had cattails growing among our pickerelweed and Florida swamp lilies. He was able to get the boat to the shore and individually spray the cattail plants to minimize casualties to our littoral plants. He lets me know when he’s coming, and he gives me detailed descriptions of what he accomplished on each visit. I highly recommend SOLitude Lake Management and Eric!

Karen W.

Treasurer, West Palm Beach, FL

Our Pond Vegetation Is Finally Under Control

Good experience as usual. Pond vegetation was out of control, and the treatment controlled the bad stuff while leaving the good stuff alone. Company service folks and office folks are always checking back to make sure everything was done as agreed.

Jeff M.

Board Director, Melbourne, FL

Our Lake Stays Algae-Free and Looks Great

Very happy with SOLitude! SOLitude keeps our lake algae-free and looking great. No complaints at all.

William Z.

Property Owner, Sarasota, FL

Our Lakes Are Beautiful Again

We had a horrific outbreak of dollar weed or water cabbage. But it only took a phone call, and SOLitude was right on it. Now all four lakes are beautiful again. Thanks, SOLitude, for over twenty years of great service!

Wayne M.

Board President, Apollo Beach, FL

Our Pond Is Finally Looking Showroom-Ready

Good experience as usual. Pond vegetation was out of control. The treatment killed the bad stuff and left the good stuff alone. Hope to have it showroom-ready in a few more applications. The company service folks and office folks are always checking back to make sure everything was done as agreed.

Jeff M.

Board Director, Kissimmee, FL

Our Community Pond Looks Amazing

SOLitude Lake Management is doing a great job maintaining our community pond! The grass carp they put in for weed control are doing well. It looks great! Use them, and you won’t be disappointed!

Eric W.

Community Member, Jacksonville, FL

We Finally Have a Solution That Works

SOLitude has done an outstanding job managing vegetation in our dry detention basin. They brought the basin into compliance while helping us reduce nuisance vegetation and preserve beneficial aquatic plants. Their customized approach, environmental awareness, and commitment to customer service have delivered great results for our HOA. We’re very pleased with the outcome and appreciate their expertise and guidance throughout the process.

Jeff M.

Board Director, Fort Pierce, FL

The Results Were Nothing Short of Amazing

We are so pleased with the service and hard work from SOLitude Lake Management. They have transformed a retention pond that had been neglected for years. Their workers were quick and worked really hard to clear all of the debris and overgrown invasive plants and trees growing in our pond. The results were nothing short of amazing after the work was completed. Thank you, Liz and your team, too!

Vanessa G.

Board Member, Sarasota, FL

The Difference Was Amazing

We’ve had another company for eight years, and they were good until about 6 months ago. They didn’t seem to want to fix our algae problem. Called SOLitude, and they said it would take several months to get it under control. After one month, the difference was amazing. Highly recommend SOLitude.

Carol C.

Board Member, Apollo Beach, FL

More Than 6 Years of Healthy Fish and Reliable Pond Care

We have used SOLitude for over 6 years! They have done a great job of maintaining the retention pond’s plant growth and fish population. Their maintenance pricing is competitive, and they have been very reliable over the years.

Bradley S.

HOA President, Kissimmee, FL

Completely Satisfied With the Shoreline Restoration Results

SOLitude fully adheres to its contract. Their crews come in, get the job done on schedule, and clean up without leaving a trace, except for the great results that show they were working on your property. Completely satisfied with the shoreline stabilization and pond invasive growth cleanup.

Susan F.

Ponds Committee Member, Nokomis, FL

Our Lake Bank Was Restored

SOLitude was fantastic. Super responsive, caring, and efficient. The crew doing the work at our house was great, and Liz was very understanding and offered very helpful SOLutions. Our lake bank was restored to better-than-new condition!

Dan R.

Property Owner, Venice, FL

Even Our Skeptical Neighbor Is Impressed

We are very happy. We now actually have a beautiful (small) backyard sloping to the lake. We are so glad SOLitude recommended SOX as a remedy to our erosion and stabilization issues. George and his crew did a great job. Very courteous and cleaned up everything. Even our skeptical neighbor is impressed.

Barry J.

Property Owner, Sarasota, FL

SOLitude Has Stayed on Top of It

SOLitude has been first-rate. They are here on time every month. They test the water to see what its needs are, then treat it appropriately. This has been a trying year for the pond. Drought and then heavy rain have made the process difficult, but SOLitude has stayed on top of it!

Jimi B.

Community Member,

How Can We Help?

The dry season is approaching quickly but luckily our team of aquatic scientists and biologists are waiting to save the day (and your waterbody). To have a beautiful and balanced waterbody come spring, you must take proactive measures now before water quality issues arise. To speak more about our proactive solutions, please call or fill out the form below.

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