Lake and Pond Aeration as a Management Tool

Lake and pond aeration can be a key tool when addressing the effects of pond and lake degradation and deterioration. Controlling algae growth and pond weeds can become a major detriment to maintaining a high quality fishery, especially in a pond or lake system. When water quality and overall fishery health are handicapped by the improper management of nutrients (phosphorus, ammonium and nitrogenous compounds) or nutrient loading within a system, overall pond health will suffer. Sweetwater Fisheries offers pond consultation to help you target the management issues that need improvement.

What It Is:

Lake bottom aeration is the process of introducing ambient air to the pond bottom, oxygenating and circulating pond water. Without proper aeration circulation, ponds and lakes can become stratified, trapping toxic gases (ammonium and nitrogen) as well as decomposing organic matter to the pond bottom. Decomposing matter consumes oxygen through different biological processes, often depleting all available oxygen in this lower layer needed by fish and macroinvertebrates.

Why do Ponds Need Aeration?

In addition to minimizing the effects of trapped toxic gasses, aeration de-stratifies the water column, reducing the negative effects of pond turnover. Many high elevation fisheries also suffer from winterkill from the ice cap trapping these gasses which suffocate fish and aquaitc insects, and require supplemental stocking each year.

Another term often tossed around the fisheries management arena is eutrophication. Eutrophication takes place when the normal supply of organic nutrients to a body of water increases, causing an imbalance in the of biomass of the system. The source of these nutrients generally come from the surrounding landscape and are often in the form of crop or turf fertilization. This influx of nutrients, and resulting increase in biomass, increases the BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) requirements of the system.

What It All Boils Down To:

In order to maintain a fishery of the highest caliber from the pond bottom up, the inclusion of pond and lake aeration is critical. SFG’s years of developing innovative fisheries management techniques afford our clients the carefree effectiveness of an excellent management system providing years of beneficial service.