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Lake Airlie After Herbicide and Diatom Promoter

23 Acre Lake Airlie Warrenton, VA

We spoke at length with new owner of 250+ acres in Warrenton, VA about restoring his lake while keeping his fishing top notch. Before he purchased the lake it had been neglected and had waterchestnut, lots of hydrilla, duckweed, and a variety of algae including benthic and floating algae. Pictured left was years before it was purchased. The hydrilla is underwater and the duckweed is missing from photo. The biggest challenge is lowering the nutrient levels in the lake. Muck was over 3 ft. deep in most places.

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

In Virginia, hydrilla is almost impossible to get rid of; waterchestnut is one of the worst invasive floating weeds. We had no choice but to use a "selective herbicide" that would kill the hydrilla, waterchestnut, duckweed and most algae. The herbicide was designed to break down and go away naturally in 30 days. We worked for a month, then cleaned the water with several weeks of diatom promoter before returning to more herbicide and algaecide including some granular to go after the benthic algae with no water restrictions. Fishing was monitored and was maintained excellent through out our processes. Once as much weed and algae was conservatively killed back, we installed Beneficial Bacteria Reactor / Generator systems throughout the 23 acre lake with three aeration systems to give us powered clarifier systems. We placed two unpowered bio-reactors in far end of lake where water comes in via streams. Bio-Pods were placed all around the lake. Pictured to left is looking out the boat house which is the top of the finger in the worst condition, including the worst algae infestation.

Lake Airlie after Beneficial Bacteria systems

Installing Beneficial Bacteria Reactors Systems finished off the rest of the algae and weed by reducing N & P nutrient loads; clarifying lake quickly. Left is looking out the boat house, up the same part of with lake two aeration heads 30 days later. ENTIRE 23 acre lake looks like the picture to the left. Excess nutrients under control.

Follow up Plan was developed

Continued maintenance treatments for the water health, aquatic health and oxygen by using diatom promoter, calcium silicate, aeration and maintaining beneficial bacteria bio-reactors. Lake should have nutrient levels under control, be deeper, weed free and clean this spring.

Pond 1 above left had a silt problem and the silt trapped algae cells along the dam.
Pond 1 in Mineral with algae on the dam and around pond

Pond 2 had watermeal, aglae and waterchestnut filling the pond. The cattails were killed before we arrived.
Pond 2 in Mineral with watermeal, waterchestnut

Pond 2 in Mineral with watermeal, waterchestnut

Pond 3 had watermeal, aglae and waterchestnut entering the pond from pond 2. Generally a nice looking maintained pond.
Pond 3 with watermeal and waterchestnut around the edges

Pond 3 with watermeal and waterchestnut around the edges

11 Acres in 3 ponds, neighbors to Louisa Solar Farm development.

We quoted and were hired by a Solar company to help three neighboring ponds in Mineral. Each felt that their ponds were being fouled up by the Solar project runoff, when it did rain. We found two of the three ponds had historic challenges with watermeal, algae and waterchestnut. We worked complete days, one day per week, four weeks consecutively. First visit was to document and establish what we needed to accomplish in all three ponds.

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

Second visit was to treat all three ponds weeds and algae, with proper low environmental impact herbicides and algaecides. Our third visit was to install Bio-Reactors to perpetually produce beneficial bacteria to further kill weeds and algae as well as clean the ponds year after year. We found we successfully accomplished all goals. That silt flow into Pond 1 was outside of the scope of our contracted work.

Pond 1 after 1 week; algae dead or dying and water clearing except when it rains
Pond 1 After Treatment algae dying or dead

Pond 2 after 1 week; most algae dead or dying and water clearing
Pond 2 week after herbicide.

Pond 3 after 1 week; weeds and algae dead or dying and water looking even better
Pond 3 after herbicide treatment

Pond 2 after 4 more weeks; early November; almost all clear!
Pond 2 Feedback November, happy customer

Follow up Plan was developed

Perpetual Bio-Reactors left in each stream and pond continue to clean these ponds. Pond 1 had not put in a silt fence last we heard, but were planning on it. The Bio-Reactors kept the algae from coming back in Pond 1.

Purcellville 3 acre Pond

Our client dredged a 100 year old pond on his property to increase the depth throughout the pond. This unfortunately released a lot of pockets of pollution in the soil. He also observed a lot of geese visiting his pond after he refilled it and attributed much pollution to the geese. We found pondweed had taken root throughout the pond, even in 8 ft of water. The pond was well designed and stocked with bluegill and bass.

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

We believed the pondweed was thriving on pollution and regardless of the source we felt confident that if we eliminated the pollution we could starve out the pondweed WITHOUT USING ANY PESTICIDES NOR HARSH CHEMICALS OR HERBICIDES. We installed an aerator and began treating with double treatments of Aquaritin diatom promoter along with some beneficial bacteria to consume the excess nutrients.

Within ONLY 30 DAYS after the four double doses of Aquaritin, beneficial bacteria and the aerator running 24/7 along with bulk removal of the existing pondweed by hauling it into boats like fishing nets, we snorkeled the pond and found that the only pondweed left was growing in one or two feet of water only by the stream that enters into the pond and a few plants on the shoreline. Other than that the pond was weed free!

Follow up Plan was developed

Owner obtained a permit for 10 Triploid Carp and had them delivered in the fall. Continue maintenance treatments for the water health, aquatic health and oxygen by using diatom promoter. Additionally beneficial bacteria is be used to clarify the water.

Beaverdam Pond

Our client purchased a property in March and by April realized the pond that came with the property was a problem and wanted to do something to make it a nice pond. They called several pond consultants, companies but we convinced them that our nonprofit had the best plan for the most reasonable treatment plan costs.

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

In Virginia, watershield is one of the worst invasive weeds. This pond was loaded with watershield then started growing lily pads in the middle as well. The owners had no choice but to use a "selective herbicide" that would not hurt grass, other plants or aquatic life. The herbicide was designed to break down and go away naturally, but after three weeks we raked some of the dead weed and started treating the water to regain aquatic health and oxygen by using diatom promoter and beneficial bacteria at the same time to attack some of the very thick muck we encountered. After a few months a second treatment of selective herbicide and that finished off the weed growth leaving the pond clean and clear.

After treatment, by August we were able to see the pond bottom across the pond and the owners were able to enjoy their pond. The after photo to the left simply has a bunch of leaves fallen on top as the warmer weather and wind blew leaves into the pond before the photo was taken. They recently sent me a video taken on their phone showing aquatic life in the pond. That was some clear water!

Follow up Plan was developed

Continue maintenance treatments for the water health, aquatic health and oxygen by using diatom promoter. Additionally beneficial bacteria should be used to continue reducing thick muck as well as support the diatoms. Pond should be monitored to react to new weed growth and signs of needs for water treatment plan adjustments.

Clifton Pond Restoration

We received a call in July regarding a pond in Clifton that had become completely filled end to end with waterchestnut, one of Virginia's worst invasive weeds. It was hard to find any water when we evaluated.

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

In Virginia, waterchestnut is one of the worst invasive floating weeds. Waterchestnut has a 7 or 8 foot coiled up floating root structure under the main plant. We had no choice but to use a "selective herbicide" that would not hurt grass, other plants or aquatic life. The herbicide was designed to break down and go away naturally in 14 days, After a few weeks we had only killed the weeds around the edge of the pond. We raked the dying weeds around the pond to create a good water barrier for aquatic life, then treated the weeds in the middle.

After the weeds all died and decomposed or were removed we began weekly treatments of Aquaritin diatom promoter and beneficial bacteria. The owners wisely had us install an aerator with two heads and continue the Aquaritin and beneficial bacteria treatments. After just a few weeks there were no traces of any chemical residual, and we could see the bottom of the pond clearly nearly all the way across where it was only three feet deep.

Follow up Plan was developed

Continued maintenance treatments for the water health, aquatic health and oxygen by using diatom promoter. Additionally beneficial bacteria should be used to continue reducing thick muck and new leaves as well as support the diatoms. Pond is under maintenance contract so we monitor and treat including bio-dredging on a monthly basis.

Sterling Pond Algae

We received a call in July regarding a pond in Sterling that had problems every year with heavy algae growth.

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

Although our initial inspection also found issues with the pond shoreline which needed to be re-enforced to prevent runoff and severe erosion, we were confident that we could clean up the water. We showed the owner how to treat the pond and once we had the correct dosages, the pond water was clean in 5 weekly treatments of Aquaritin and Beneficial Bacteria.

After the algae was all gone the pond still had problems with erosion and suspended clay particles but the owner opted not to address that issue at this time.

Follow up Plan was developed

We advised the owner to reinforce the banks of the pond with a retaining wall or with proper deep rooted plants grown six or more feet wide around the pond. After they fix the runoff and erosion issues we hope to return to clarify the pond,

Pond 1, after glycol spill.

Pond 1, leg section; lots of glycol.

Ashburn Commercial Ponds

Our client is a national commercial construction
company working on many projects. At one site a bad glycol spill occurred in one of two retention ponds. Before consulting us someone decided to pump large amounts of pond water that had the glycol in it into the other pond in an attempt to dilute the chemical. Afterwards, the result was they had two contaminated ponds; and responsibly plugged both ponds so no contaminated water would exit into the local drainage system. Pond 1 was about 3.5 million gallons and Pond 2 was about 6.5 million gallons. We were called at the end of September. They had begun to add aeration. The starting metrics from an independent lab for the ponds were Pond 1: 9/16/2021 - pH 4.19 ; DO 0.51 ; Glycol 1,080 mg/L. Pond 2 was not measured until after water from Pond 1 was pumped into Pond 2. Then Pond 2 metrics pH 6.24 ; DO 0.38 ; Glycol Not Detected. Both ponds had extreme odor levels and Pond 1 turned green (was originally brown/red clay bottom colored as it was newer).

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

Our research showed that all glycol was broken down by bacteria and the proper beneficial bacteria could be used at safe, but high doses along with Aquaritin at double doses, weekly. Additionally the construction company deployed dozens of aeration heads and several fountains. The double doses of beneficial bacteria and Aquaritin eliminated the odor in two weeks and no more Glycol was detected after four weeks.

Pond 1, after five weekly heavy treatments.

Pond 2, after five weekly heavy treatments.

Pond 1, December 13th, after no treatments four weeks then two more.

Pond 2, December 13th, still in normal operation.

Ashburn chemical spill Pond 1 normal operation

Interim Progress:

After five weekly heavy treatments we saw what too much excess diatoms mixed with aeration looks like; but we wanted the glycol to be gone. Pond 1 with all its aeration caused the extra diatoms to foam up. Note that we scooped up some of the brown diatom foam and it smelled clean and like pure diatom algae foam, so we knew it was still doing the job, creating oxygen. The heavy doses of beneficial bacteria likely also was in the foam. At this point the independent laboratory found no Glycol in the pond. The excess diatom foam all dissipated within a week.

In six weeks we saw that the treatments were working and Pond 2 was clean and high quality. We could see the bottom 20 feet or so out from the shore.
By Nov. 30 the metrics were Pond 1: pH 7.09 and DO 2.6 ; Pond 2: pH 8.08 and DO 13.4 There was still no trace of glycol detected. The plug was removed on this pond and it returned to normal operation.

Follow up Plan was developed

Continue maintenance treatments for the water health, especially in Pond 1, needed to restore aquatic health and oxygen levels by using diatom promoter. Additionally, beneficial bacteria should be used to continue break down of any remaining chemical residue and ammonia as well as to support the diatoms. Problem was no treatments were done for five weeks, so Pond 1 started to revert to unhealthy, unclear water with odor. One treatment fixed odors. Two were done before temperatures turned to freezing. By this time it was our understanding that the ponds were both were clean enough for unplugging and draining normally. Pond maintenance should be restarted when temperatures stay average 40 degrees. Both ponds need to be monitored to prevent new weed growth, odor and signs of need for water treatment plan adjustments. Both ponds are also scheduled for swan decoy installation to prevent flocks of geese from polluting ponds in the spring.

23 Acre Lake Airlie Warrenton, VA

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

Follow up Plan was developed

11 Acres in 3 ponds, neighbors to Louisa Solar Farm development.

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

Follow up Plan was developed

Purcellville 3 acre Pond

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

Follow up Plan was developed

Beaverdam Pond

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

Follow up Plan was developed

Clifton Pond Restoration

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

Follow up Plan was developed

Sterling Pond Algae

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

Follow up Plan was developed

Ashburn Commercial Ponds

Our Treatment Plan was developed, then executed

Interim Progress:

Follow up Plan was developed

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