Lake and Reservoir Management
One team, one plan and a full year of care that keeps your water clear, healthy and ready to enjoy.
Free basic assessment with an annual management programSign up for a lake and reservoir management program and get your first basic assessment at no charge.
See the assessmentsWhy a management program
Why lakes need ongoing management
Algae, weeds, muck and low oxygen are symptoms. The causes, like excess nutrients, poor circulation and invasive plants, are still there after a single visit, so the problems return season after season.
An annual management program changes that. We learn how your lake works, fix what is driving the problems and stay on it all year, so your water gets clearer, healthier and easier to enjoy every season.
Proactive versus reactive
Annual management versus reactive treatment
Most of what goes wrong in a lake or pond builds for months before anyone sees it. Here is what changes when someone is watching it all year.
An annual management program
- Problems are caught earlier, while they are easier to fix
- Causes are addressed, not just symptoms
- Results are measured against your baseline every season
- One team that knows your water and plans ahead
Reactive treatment
- Blooms and weeds are handled once they are already a problem
- The same issues come back every summer
- No baseline, so there is no way to measure progress
- Rushed fixes during the busiest time of year
Every program includes
Planning, monitoring, treatment and reporting
Who we work with
Programs for every kind of water
Your year with us
A seasonal management calendar
Every program is built around your water, your goals and your budget. Here is what a typical year looks like.
Spring
Baseline assessment and planning
Spring work sets up the whole season. Acting before the water warms keeps algae and weeds from getting ahead.
- Lake and Reservoir AssessmentA baseline of your water, plants, sediment and nutrients. See the assessment.
- Your management planGoals, scope and a season schedule built from the results.
- Early season controlTargeting invasive plants like curlyleaf pondweed while they are small.
- Nutrient mitigationPhosphorus inactivation before the water warms, to help hold back harmful algae blooms. Learn more.
- Equipment careChecks, repairs and maintenance so aeration and fountains are ready for the season.
Summer
Monitoring and treatment through peak growth
Warm water and long days drive algae and plant growth. Regular visits keep your lake usable all summer.
- Scheduled site visitsPlant and algae management on a set schedule, not after a complaint.
- Water quality checksDepth profiles and lab testing to track oxygen and nutrients.
- Health, safety and algae monitoringTesting for toxic algae and E. coli so you know when swimmers and pets should stay out.
Fall
Fall turnover and shoreline work
As the lake cools and mixes, nutrients stored on the bottom can return to the water. Fall work protects next year.
- Shoreline and cattail workCutting back growth while plants are going dormant.
- Seasonal reportWhat changed, what worked and where your lake stands against its baseline.
- Review meetingWe walk through the results with you and set goals for next year.
Winter
Winter aeration and planning
Winter is quiet on the water, but it is the right time to protect fish and get ready for spring.
- Winter aeration and deicersKeeping an area of open water and the water circulating, which lowers the risk of winter fish kills.
- Next year’s planAn updated scope and schedule based on this year’s results.
- First call in springYour lake is on our schedule before the season gets busy.
Common questions
How often do you visit?
It depends on your water and your goals. Your plan sets a visit schedule for the season, with more visits during the growing season when algae and plants are most active.
What does a program cost?
Every program is priced for your lake or pond after the assessment, based on its size, its condition and the services it needs. You get a clear proposal before anything starts.
How long is the agreement?
Programs run for a full year, so we can manage through every season and measure results against your baseline.
Can services change during the year?
Yes. If monitoring shows something new, like a bloom or an invasive plant, we adjust the plan and talk with you first.
Do I need an assessment first?
Yes. The assessment is how we know what is driving your problems. New clients can get their first basic assessment at no charge through the New Client Program.
Start your management program
Tell us about your lake, reservoir or pond and we will build a program around it.