Largest Pond on Cape Cod Undergoes Phosphorus Inactivation Treatment
 In
the fall of 2007, Aquatic Control successfully carried out a phosphorus
inactivation treatment on the Cape’s largest freshwater waterbody,
Long Pond in Brewster/Harwich. This project was funded by the Town of
Brewster, Town of Harwich and the State of Massachusetts through the
Department of Conservation and Recreation. The treatment plan, which
was developed by ENSR, Inc. in cooperation with Aquatic Control, involved
the concurrent application of aluminum sulfate (alum) and sodium aluminate
to approximately half of this 740-acre pond. The goal of the treatment
was to reduce internal phosphorus recycling in the pond, reduce the occurrence
and severity of nuisance algae blooms, increase deep water oxygenation
and improve cold-water fisheries habitat. This is the largest alum treatment
ever conducted in New England with over 100,000 gallons of product carefully
applied to the pond over a span of almost four weeks. All those involved
are looking forward to improved conditions on the pond this summer.
Follow-up monitoring will be conducted by ENSR.
Managing Invasive
Watermilfoil in Vermont Lakes
 Over
the past five years, Aquatic Control has been working closely with the
Lake St. Catherine Association (Poultney/Wells) and Lake Hortonia/Burr
Pond Associations (Sudbury/Hubbarton) to manage invasive Eurasian watermilfoil
(Myriophyllum spicatum). Lake St. Catherine and Lake Hortonia are two
of Vermont’s more widely used and larger lakes at approximately
1,100 and 600 acres, respectively. Comprehensive management programs
began with a lake assessment and development of a five-year management
plan that is required under VT DEC’s rigorous permitting requirements.
The plan requires the use of both chemical and non-chemical strategies
to control milfoil. Following successful “whole lake” Sonar
(Fluridone) treatments in both waterbodies in 2004, subsequent annual
plant monitoring identified the need for smaller-scale “spot-treatments” of
both waterbodies with Renovate 3 (Triclopyr) liquid aquatic herbicide
in 2006. Just <1% - 5% of each waterbody warranted herbicide treatment.
In 2007 and 2008, additional “spot treatments” were performed
with the newer Renovate OTF (flake formulation) herbicide. These Renovate
treatments have shown to be remarkably selective for milfoil with minimal
impact on most non-target plants. Renovate herbicide is proving to be
an effective tool to combat the reestablishment of invasive watermilfoil.
Pond Management
 While
we often like to feature our larger and more challenging lake management
projects in The Watermark, well over half of the hundreds of waterbodies
that we work on and manage each year are ponds. These ponds may be owned
by just one individual, a group of property owners or neighborhood association,
Fish & Game Clubs, corporations, cities/towns and other owners as
well. The ponds often range in size from less than a quarter of an acre
to 10 acres or larger. The clients management objectives and intended
uses for the pond are as diverse as their ownership and typically include;
swimming, fishing and other recreational pursuits; maintenance of fish/wildlife
habitat and aesthetics. Unlike some other lake management companies that
claim they can provide a complete range of pond management services and
then the potential customer learns that they really just offer chemical
treatment, Aquatic Control has practiced a truly
integrated approach to pond management since our inception in 1976.
We offer the widest range of both chemical and non-chemical services
(in-house) for pond management of any company in the northeast. Please visit
our web-site or better
yet, give us a call and ask to speak with a Biologist or Environmental
Engineer.
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