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Assessments & Management Plans

Aquatic Control is proficient in all types of lake and pond assessment programs from water quality investigations and plant inventories to wildlife habitat surveys and bathymetric depth surveys. One of the more important things to establish, before embarking on (or contracting for) a study of your lake is the goal of the project and knowing what it is that you would like to do with the data that will be collected. ACT has the staff, resources and experience to help you decide which type of lake assessment is the best fit for your need and budget and we can also incorporate new and existing information into a Lake Management Plan.

Vegetation & Invasive Species Surveys

Aquatic Control specializes in performing plant surveys for any type or size waterbody. In many cases, the results of the plant survey are used to formulate a vegetation management plan, however we also conduct surveys to document the effectiveness of management techniques, evaluate biodiversity, monitor healthy lakes for potentially invasive species and document the presence of threatened or endangered species.

The staff at Aquatic Control is highly proficient in identifying and cataloguing aquatic plants including submersed, floating and emergent species. We are also current with the all the plant sampling techniques, including underwater camera technologies and also are familiar with various state protocols. When needed, Aquatic Control is equipped with state of the art Geographic Positioning Systems and all of our mapping is completed using ESRI ArcGIS software. Our GPS inventory includes multiple Garmin hand-held units and two Trimble units capable of sub-meter accuracy.

Water Quality Assessments

Whether it’s a one time assessment or a regularly scheduled monitoring program, Aquatic Control can provide comprehensive water quality assessments of your lake and pond. Based on your data needs and the layout of your lake, our staff can design just the right type of water quality assessment including in-lake, tributary and storm water sampling. We work with several laboratories in the region to provide state-certified analyses of just about any imaginable parameter. Typically a standard water quality sample will be tested for pH, total alkalinity, turbidity, nitrate series, phosphorus series, color and bacteria.

Sampling visits include measurement of dissolved oxygen, temperature and water quality. We are also equipped to collect samples for phytoplankton and zooplankton identification and enumeration. Collected data is documented in a written report complete with various statistical presentations as required.

Bathymetric Surveys

Its good to have a map of the water depths bathymetry of your pond or lake and for some management techniques is almost a necessity. For example, if you’d like to investigate water-level drawdown to control nuisance plants, a bathymetry map is vital to calculate water volume and show how much area will be exposed under drawdown conditions. When proceeding with some types of chemical treatment, it’s important to have an accurate water depth and volume information in order to calculate the required herbicide amounts.

If you need a bathymetry survey, Aquatic Control can work with you to develop an appropriate level of detail and cost. The level of detail needed depends on your lake and the ultimate use of the data. The map detail is dependent in the number of measurement points, the method used to locate those points geographically and the type of depth measurement. With more points measured, the detail or precision of the map is increased. Use of standard GPS or differential (sub-meter) GPS as well as the method of depth measurements (weighted line, calibrated pole, hand held sonar or boat mounted sonar) also affects the precision.

Wildlife Habitat Surveys

Lakes and ponds are home to a wide variety of wildlife including both aquatic and non-aquatic species and in some case, wildlife habitat surveys are needed to comply with permitting requirements. Aquatic Control’s biologists are familiar with performing general wildlife habitat surveys, including identifying various habitat features and observations of existing wildlife populations. If you have a need for characterizing or documenting wildlife habitat at you waterbody, feel free to contact us about more details.

Need a Little Bit of Everything?
Consider our Baseline Biological Survey

Our baseline biological survey will provide just the right amount of each of the above types of investigations and will provide information necessary to document the existing biological and water quality condition of your lake or pond. This information is then used to develop the Biological Survey Report and proposed management program. The Baseline Biological Survey is typically a required first step and is strongly recommended to get a management/restoration program developed and underway.

Components of the Biological Survey

• Aquatic plant identification and mapping
• Water quality analyses of basic parameters
• Sediment and water depth characterization
• Review of equipment access sites, outlet control structures, etc.
• Qualitative fish & wildlife observations
• Review of water and recreational uses
• Algae identification & enumeration
• Watershed field evaluation

Contents of the Biological Survey Report

A Biological Survey Report will be prepared using the information collected during the field survey along with a review of available data. The report will include discussion of the overall "condition" of the pond or lake, identifying those areas of immediate concern (see example PDF)and potential imbalances in the waterbody ecology. Specific recommendations for a lake management program will be presented with a definitive "Scope of Work" and cost estimates. A "Schedule of Performance" will outline a proposed time frame for permitting, implementation and follow-up monitoring/inspection.