LAKE RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT

Lakes in Florida, whether they are man-made or natural, have a life cycle. They start balanced, fresh and clear with natural clean-up mechanisms in place. As they age, increased nutrient levels can put a waterway system out of balance, often overwhelming its natural ability to dissipate problems. This often causes excessive weed and algae growth.

As lakes age, they pass through four "phases of life" known as Trophic States. These cycles measure a lake’s biological productivity. Excessive productivity is usually considered to be negative. The four trophic classifications are OLIGOTROPHIC; waterbodies which have the lowest level of productivity, MESOTROPHIC; waters that have moderate levels of productivity, EUTROPHIC; waterbodies which have a high level of biological productivity and HYPEREUTROPHIC; waters that have the highest level of biological productivity.

Algae blooms, caused by excessive nutrients in the water can trigger a chain of natural events that can result in fish kills, especially in hot, overcast weather. The control of nutrients to manipulate algae growth is a strategy for managing fisheries, water clarity and wildlife populations. Waterway management programs are designed to slow down the aging process of waterbodies and to help prolong the peak period of desirable water quality, clarity and nutrient balance.

Every lake is a unique ecosystem. There is no magical cure for lake problems! This is why it is essential to understand the causes of problems, as well as the effects. By analyzing specific problems and increasing the understanding of aquatic systems, a balanced restoration and management program for lakes can be formulated.

It should be noted that the most significant factors that impact lake conditions are oxygen levels in the water, the amount of nutrients contained in the water and water temperature.
  • OXYGEN supports the food chain and provides for a natural way to consume organic matter and undesirable bacteria.
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  • Organic NUTRIENTS are compounds essential to the life of a plant. In water management, these are substances that contain phosphorous and nitrogen (materials found in fertilizers). As nutrient levels rise in lake water, so does algae, and aquatic weed growth, often causing severe problems.
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  • TEMPERATURE differentials in surface and the bottom water of a lake is called thermal stratification. Variations in water temperature cause differences in density. Warm and cold layers do not mix. Warmer surface water induces algae growth. Lake "turnover" which brings oxygen deficient water to the surface, is a prime cause of natural fish kills.
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    The installation of aeration equipment can increase DISSOLVED OXYGEN levels in lakes can reduce problems caused by TEMPERATURE differences. Biological benefits of aeration include:
  • Increased circulation and destratification.
  • Reduced water stagnation.
  • Increased life-sustaining oxygen for fish populations.
  • Increased oxygen for the improvement of bottom-water quality.
  • Increased oxygen for rapid decomposition of organic sediment.  Increased           oxygen to help control undesirable bacteria.
  • A "healthier" aquatic environment.

    • When NUTRIENT-LOADING has created algae and undesirable aquatic weed growth, four common remedies may be utilized: Mechanical Harvesting, Lake Drawdowns, Herbicide Control and Biological Agent Control. Ideally, aquatic plant management should consist of a combination of methods that work harmoniously with each other, and with the environment.

    In addition to restoration and control procedures, preventative measures and BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES should be initiated to help reduce the potential of ongoing lake degradation. These "common sense" activities can include the careful application of fertilizers and lawn products by professional, LICENSED personnel only.

    Lakeside residents should never discard grass clippings or landscape cuttings into lakes and should leave beneficial emergent aquatic plants such as rush, arrowhead and pickerelweed along shorelines. These plants provide a filtering mechanism for runoff.

    Education and literature on BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES is available from local water management districts, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the University of Florida’s Cooperative Extension Service offices.

    Steve Weinsier / Allstate Resource Management, Inc.

     

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