Articles

5 Ways to Prepare Your Waterbody for Success This Autumn

By SOLitude Lake Management

Following the hot, humid weather that accompanies summer, the fall season brings a sigh of relief with less intense sunshine and cooler temperatures. Just as the trees reflect the changing of the seasons, your water resources also experience change. Fall is a perfect window to complete lasting maintenance. It’s important to stay on top of lake and pond management to facilitate fall recreational activities and to ensure you can enjoy it to its full potential come spring.

1. Rehabilitate eroded shorelines

As algae and vegetation growth subside, there are many opportunities to tackle management projects that could not be accommodated during the summer. Erosion around shorelines often becomes more visible and this short window before winter is perfect to introduce a bioengineered shoreline. Depending on the size of the degraded area, a patented knit material can be installed within a few days or weeks to anchor sediment in place. It can then be planted with grass or sod to restore aesthetic beauty to the landscape around your waterbody. The system’s strength and integrity ensure the transformation is safe and long-lasting.

2. Manage nuisance and beneficial shoreline plants

In addition to addressing dangerous erosion issues, the shoreline should be examined for woody vegetation and invasive plants like Phragmites australis, both of which should be physically removed to prevent further destabilization and potential damage to stormwater equipment. Native buffer species should be trimmed and the debris should be removed from the site. Likewise, Autumn leaves, grass clippings, and other fall materials should be cleared to ensure they do not enter the water, decay, and create harmful water quality imbalances that could encourage algae growth come spring. Plant matter is also known to clog stormwater equipment and floating fountains.

3. Restore valuable depth and volume

If erosion and plant decay have accumulated over many years due to lack of proactive management, it may be time to restore depth in affected areas with hydro-raking. A hydro-rake is a floating barge with a mounted backhoe that can gather up to 500 pounds of muck in each scoop and deposit it on the land for disposal. Because a hydro-rake operates from the water, it does not impact delicate shorelines. Fall is a perfect time for hydro-raking projects so the accumulation of leaves, branches, and decomposing plant matter can be removed before they negatively impact water quality conditions later in the year.

4. Execute your aeration plan

That brings us to aeration. If your lake or pond has a fountain, now is the perfect time to schedule an ‘oil and seals’ service, which should be performed every 2-3 years. For those who live in colder climates, you may desire removal and winter storage for your fountain. If so, this should be completed by early December. In slightly warmer climates, fountains and submersed aeration systems can be left in the water to reduce ice formation and prevent stratification (the distinct layering of water temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels), which can cause fish kills.  

5. Collect data and identify physical changes in your waterbody

Data is an important tool to help learn what your lake or pond needs to thrive. Just as water quality testing provides insight into the chemical components of the water, it is also beneficial to examine the physical components of the water resource. Bathymetric mapping is the go-to tool to “see” below the surface and uncover the unique depths, contours and structural components at the bottom. When completed every 3-5 years, bathymetric studies can be compared to track physical changes over time.

Other types of mapping can reveal total surface area and sediment accumulation, making it easier to create a timeline and budget for future dredging needs. Mapping can take place any time of year, but it is often prioritized during the fall when the valuable data is used to facilitate planning or permitting needs and inform budget projections.

Takeaways
Though year-round annual management is a central part of lake and pond ownership, fall is a great time to implement a variety of techniques and strategies that aren’t always feasible during the warmer months. It’s also a time to consider your goals for the following year and begin the planning required to achieve them. Your professional lake manager can help you throughout the process and ensure you are on the right track to maximize your budget and the enjoyment of your waterbody for years to come.