Frequently Asked Questions

We map your water with sonar, identify the plants and algae, measure oxygen and temperature from top to bottom and send water and sediment samples to the lab. You get a written report that explains what is driving the problems you see, followed by a review meeting and a plan built around how you use the water. Lake and Pond Assessment.

Outline your pond on a satellite map in our Lake and Pond Calculator to get surface acres, then add your maximum depth for an estimated volume. Multiply surface acres by average depth in feet to get acre feet. For exact depth and volume, sonar lake mapping measures the whole pond. Lake and Pond Calculator.

We serve Idaho, Oregon and western Wyoming from our offices in Eagle, Idaho and Bend, Oregon. Western Wyoming means Teton, Lincoln, Sublette and Uinta counties, including Jackson, Afton, Pinedale and Evanston, served from our Eagle, Idaho office. Contact Us.

Many registered aquatic products have no swimming restriction, and others have a short waiting period listed on the label. We always follow the label and let you know ahead of time if any restriction applies. Stay out of the water while an application is underway. Aquatic Plant and Algae Management.

Irrigation waiting periods vary widely by product, from none at all to several weeks or longer, and the rules for turf, crops and gardens can differ. We choose products with your irrigation needs in mind and give you the label waiting period before we apply. If your water is delivered by an irrigation district, the district’s own rules apply too. Aquatic Plant and Algae Management.

Most aquatic products used according to the label have no livestock or pet drinking restriction, but some do, and the label is always the rule. The bigger concern is often cyanobacteria (blue green algae), which can produce toxins harmful to animals. If you see a scum or paint like film on the water, keep animals out until it has been tested. Harmful Algae Blooms.

Registered products applied at label rates are not expected to harm fish. The main risk is indirect: when a large amount of plants or algae dies at once, decay can use up dissolved oxygen, so heavy growth is managed in sections. Trout are more sensitive to copper products than many warmwater fish, so products and rates are chosen with your fish in mind. Aquatic Plant and Algae Management.

No. Aeration and fountains keep areas of water open or thin the ice around them, and that thin ice is not always easy to see. Post warning signs and keep people, pets and livestock off the ice on any aerated pond. Aeration and Fountains.

Leeches are common in ponds with soft muck and dense plants, and most are harmless to people. Reducing muck and weeds near swim areas lowers their numbers. Sediment Reduction.

Swimmer’s itch is a rash caused by tiny parasites that live in snails and waterfowl. They cannot live in people, so it clears on its own in about a week. Towel off right after swimming and discourage geese and ducks near the swim area. Water Quality 101.

Every pond loses water to evaporation, often a quarter inch or more a day in hot, dry weather. A faster drop, wet ground below the dam or a drop that continues in cool weather points to a leak. A leaking dam can be a safety issue. Contact Us.

Green water or mats usually mean algae is feeding on extra nutrients, especially phosphorus, along with sunlight and warm water. Common sources include fertilizer, manure, waterfowl, irrigation return water and phosphorus stored in bottom sediment. Finding and reducing those sources is the most lasting way to improve water clarity. Nutrients.

You cannot tell for sure by looking. Warning signs include blue green or paint like scums, a swirled look on the surface and a strong musty odor. Keep people, pets and livestock out of the water and have a sample identified and tested for cyanotoxins. Algae ID and Cyanotoxin Analysis.

We identify them on site or from clear photos and samples you send in. Correct identification matters because the right management method differs from one species to the next. Send us a few clear photos and we will identify it for free. Send Us a Photo.

Green or pea soup water is planktonic algae. Stringy green mats are filamentous algae. A plant that smells musky and feels gritty is chara, an alga that looks like a plant and often means clear water. Each is treated differently, so send us a photo. Send Us a Photo.

Yes. Native plants give fish and wildlife cover, use up nutrients that would otherwise feed algae, and help hold the shoreline in place. The goal is usually balance, keeping useful plants where they help and managing them where they block access or crowd out open water. Aquatic Plant Catalog.

Algae often responds within a few days, while most rooted plants take 1 to 2 weeks to show change. Slow acting systemic products can take several weeks but often last longer. Water temperature, the species involved and how dense the growth is all affect timing. Aquatic Plant and Algae Management.

Cattails spread through underground roots and can take over shallow edges, ditches and canal banks. Management usually combines a targeted aquatic herbicide with cutting, and late summer to early fall is often the most effective timing. Leaving some cattails in place can still provide useful wildlife habitat. Cattail Management.

Common aquatic invaders in the region include Eurasian watermilfoil, curlyleaf pondweed, flowering rush, yellow flag iris and purple loosestrife. All three states also run boat inspection stations to keep out zebra and quagga mussels. Always clean, drain and dry boats and gear before moving between waters. Invasive Species Control.

Results are mixed. Barley straw may slow some algae in small ponds when added in early spring, but it does not clear a bloom or control rooted plants. Aquatic Plant and Algae Management.

Nutrient mitigation lowers the amount of phosphorus available to algae by cutting inputs from the watershed and by phosphorus inactivation, which binds phosphorus already in the water and sediment. Common tools include buffer plantings, phosphorus inactivation products, aeration and floating islands. Together these help inhibit harmful algae blooms over the long term. Nutrient Mitigation.

Yes. Canal and irrigation water can bring in nutrients, sediment, plant fragments and sometimes invasive species. Steady flow also flushes water through, which can shorten how long pond dye and some products stay effective. Knowing your water source helps us plan the right approach. Nutrients.

Bottom muck is built up sediment and decaying organic matter such as leaves, dead plants and algae. It makes ponds shallower and stores phosphorus that can feed algae later. Aeration, reducing incoming sediment and a biological muck treatment (see Sediment Reduction) can help, and dredging is an option for heavy buildup. Sediment Reduction.

Our muck treatment is a biological product that digests organic muck and leaves sand behind, and it works without aeration. See Sediment Reduction. Sediment Reduction.

Aeration keeps water moving so that oxygen reaches the whole water column instead of just the surface. Better circulation supports fish, helps break down organic matter on the bottom and helps inhibit harmful algae blooms. It also lowers the risk of oxygen related fish kills in summer and under ice. Aeration and Fountains.

Diffused aeration uses a shore mounted compressor to send air to diffusers on the bottom, and the rising bubbles circulate oxygen rich surface water down to the deeper water. It works in ponds 6 feet deep or more and is most efficient at 8 feet or deeper. Ponds 6 feet deep or less do better with a shallow water system, a surface aerator or a fountain. Surface aerators and fountains agitate the surface, adding oxygen from the air. Diffused Aeration.

Diffused aeration systems are generally designed to run 24 hours a day during the season. When starting a system in warm weather for the first time, run it in short periods and build up over several days so low oxygen bottom water is not mixed in all at once. Follow the manufacturer’s startup guide for your system. Diffused Aeration.

It depends on your pond and equipment. Many owners in cold climates move diffusers to shallower water or reduce run time in winter so the deepest water stays a little warmer for fish, while others use aeration or a deicer to keep a small area open. Most fountains should be pulled before freeze up unless the manufacturer rates them for winter use. Aeration and Fountains.

Sizing depends on surface area, depth, pond shape and how the water is used. Long or irregular ponds often need more than one diffuser or unit. We size and install Kasco and Airmax systems from a map of your pond so the air goes where the water needs to circulate. Diffused Aeration.

Trout need water that stays below about 70 °F through summer, so they do best in deeper or spring fed ponds. Bass and bluegill suit ponds that warm up, but state rules often decide: in many parts of Idaho only sterile rainbow trout or native cutthroat may be stocked, and Oregon is unlikely to approve bass or bluegill where native fish live nearby. A summer temperature profile and a look at your state rules tell us what fits. Fish Species Guide.

The most common cause is low dissolved oxygen. It often happens after several hot, calm or cloudy days, after a large algae die off, or under long periods of ice and snow cover in winter. Measuring oxygen right away and adding aeration can help protect the remaining fish. Fish Kill Guide.

Fish need cover, food and places to spawn. Fish habitat structures, healthy native plants, varied depths and good oxygen all help, and floating islands add shade and shelter. A balanced predator and prey population also keeps fish growing well. Fish Habitat Guide.

We use laser deterrents, which are most effective at dusk and after dark, to encourage geese and ducks to move on without harming them. Large flocks add nutrients that feed algae, so moving them along also helps water quality. Most waterfowl are federally protected, so only hazing methods that do not harm the birds are used. Waterfowl Management.

Mosquito larvae develop in still, shallow water along the edges and in isolated pockets. Keeping water moving with aeration and opening up dense edge vegetation both help. Our mosquito and midge program adds nonchemical, biological (Bti) control targeted at the larvae. Mosquito and Midge Control.

Floating islands are planted mats whose roots hang down into the water. The roots and the film of microbes that grows on them take up nutrients, and the islands provide shade and cover for fish and wildlife. They work best alongside other steps like aeration and nutrient mitigation. Floating Islands.

Both dig into banks and dams and can cause leaks. Trapping and removal are regulated by Idaho Fish and Game, ODFW and Wyoming Game and Fish, so check with your state first. Contact Us.

Typical monitoring includes temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, clarity and nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. We can add algae identification, cyanotoxin testing and sediment analysis when needed. The results show what is driving the problems you see and guide the plan. Water Quality Monitoring.

A spring baseline and a midsummer check is a good minimum for most ponds. Ponds used for swimming or livestock watering, or with a history of algae blooms, benefit from more frequent testing during the growing season. Long term records make trends much easier to spot. Water Quality Monitoring.

Many ponds in the Intermountain West have high alkalinity and hardness because of the local geology. That buffering is usually good for fish, but pH can still climb in the afternoon when algae and plants are growing heavily. Hardness and alkalinity can also change how some products, including copper algaecides, perform, so we factor them into product choice. Water Quality 101.

Sonar mapping records depth across the whole waterbody to create a detailed contour map, and it can also show where submerged plants are growing. Knowing true depth and volume improves product rates, aerator placement and fish habitat planning. Repeat maps over time can show sediment buildup and changes in plant coverage. Sonar Lake Mapping.

An annual program includes a written plan built from your assessment, scheduled site visits, water quality monitoring, plant and algae surveys and seasonal reports. Each program is built around your water, how you use it and your budget, and services like aeration care or fish habitat work can be added. Annual Lake and Pond Management.

Your plan sets a visit schedule for the season, with more visits during the growing season when algae and plants are most active. Sites with heavy growth or high use may need more frequent visits, while others need only a few a year. We set the schedule with you when the program is built. Annual Lake and Pond Management.

Late winter or early spring is ideal, before water warms and plants and algae start growing. Starting early leaves time for permits, equipment orders and baseline testing. You can still start midseason, and the plan simply picks up from current conditions. Annual Lake and Pond Management.

Pond dyes are colorants that shade the water and limit sunlight reaching plants and algae on the bottom. Most dyes have no restrictions on swimming, irrigation or livestock, but check the product label. Dye works best when added in early spring before growth starts, and it fades faster in ponds with steady canal or stream flow.

Our shop is quote only. Choose the products you are interested in and send a quote request, and we will confirm the right product, size and availability for your pond. This makes sure you get equipment and supplies that fit your site. Shop.