Spring Algae Blooms

Unfortunately we have been noticing some very unusual and very large algae blooms in some of our communities this past month.  With the air and water temperatures rapidly increasing it makes sense to expect some of the more "biologically productive" ponds to begin showing more signs of growth.  However, in a few cases we've been able to trace the cause of these blooms directly to fertilization treatments that recently took place around said ponds. 

If you are planning on doing a spring fertilization or know that your landcare vendor will be conducting one soon, please be sure to follow Best Management Practices (BMP) and be as careful as you can to keep excess fertilizer runoff from making its way into your lakes/ponds.  An influx of extra nutrients along with increasing water temperatures will most likely result in unsightly blooms and possible fish kills.  Be sure to leave at least a ten foot "no fertilization" buffer zone and use slow release fertilizers when possible.

As always, we will continue to treat any unwanted algae growth to keep your ponds looking clean and healthy, but prevention is always the best medicince and keeping a close eye on fertilization use can go a long way in ensuring a healthier and therefore cleaner waterbody.

Listed under:  Gulf Coast, lake and pond management, aquatic management, lake cleaning, pond cleaning, Tampa,

Spring Lake Letter

                Gulf Coast Lakes & Wetlands would like to express our appreciation for your ongoing business with us. We take great pleasure in providing you with superior service and unparalleled communication in regards to your lakes and wetlands. That being said, we are posting this today to help update you on the state of your waterways, especially with the advent of Spring and Summer months ahead.

               Supplementing the problems that Winter brought us, we saw some large weather systems accompanied by high amounts of rainfall. While we certainly welcome the high, healthy water levels, the rain also supplies the lakes with a large amount of runoff both on-site and from nearby roadways. This brings with it a large influx of nutrients, especially after fertilization treatments,  leading to more algae. While we cannot prevent runoff, we do have solutions to lower the nutrients in the water, concurrent with our proactive approach to business. G.C.L.W. is the primary distributor of the new innovative Air Infuser Pond Aerator/Circulators, a revolutionary system that incorporates technology and efficiency at a cost unmatched elsewhere. We have seen astonishing results with these units in areas chronically prone to algae blooms. We would be happy to discuss this option with you at your request and convenience.

                Finally, with Spring around the corner, we expect to see a resurgence of native littoral plants. You should begin to see long strands of dark-green Bulrush thriving already, followed by the purple-flowered Pickerelweed and white-blooming Arrowhead. Along with all of the blossoms of Spring come plenty of pollen, most significantly from Slash and Longleaf pines as well as Max Myrtle and Carolina Willow. Often times large amounts of this pollen is deposited on top of the lake, and just as often is mistaken for algae. With a hearty rain, most of it will disappear and should not be of any concern in regards to the health of the lake.

                As always, Gulf Coast Lakes & Wetlands is available at any time to help mitigate any problems you encounter and strives to prevent them from occurring at all. Should you need to contact us regarding any issue, please do not hesitate to. Thank you for your time and interest and have a wonderful Spring.