FALL 2018 AquaticsinBrief Volume 12, Issue 3 Inside: Page 2 New Technology Highlight: Bioengineered Living Shorelines & Hillsides Page 3 Case Study: Managing Which Sediment Removal Option Aquatic Weeds and Algae in a Complex Community Canal System is Right for My Property? Page 4 By Lance Dohman, Regional Leader What Exactly Is Stormwater Runoff? irtually all explanations of dredg- Nuisance Plant Highlight: ing include the physical scooping Torpedograss up of underwater sand and clay Page 5 sediments to enhance a merchant ship’s access to a port or waterway. If these New SOLs V waterways become inaccessible, the eco- Page 6 nomic consequences are far reaching. Today, however, massive algal blooms, animal fatali- Upland, Wetland and ties from toxic byproducts of algae and the Aquatic Plants Every Turf Manager Should spread of invasive plants and animals are Know About sharing the front-page news with national economic interests. For those of us living Hydraulic Dredge Page 7 on a waterbody, it’s clear that our personal Before and After economic interests are rewarded via higher Showcase property values if the nearby water is both Fortunately, there are many proactive Volunteer Spotlight navigable and healthy. As a waterbody ages aquatic management solutions that can be implemented to help slow or prevent the Check Us Out… and becomes “silted-in,” organic nutrients fuel invasive plant and algae growth, and aging of waterbodies, such as proper land property owners suffer the consequences use management, maintenance of beneficial of bright green water, fish kills and danger- vegetative buffers and sediment traps, instal- ous swimming conditions. Unfortunately, lation of aeration systems and utilization of the solution to these rampant biological nutrient absorbing products. However, when problems involves more than just scooping sediment buildup is too much to dock a up the muck. Hence, we need to look at boat or when aquatic plants and algae are dredging options and aquatic management perpetually out of control, you’ll need to call A Full Service Lake, Pond, in a unified perspective. Continued on page 2 Wetland and Fisheries Management Company Top image: Aquamog Dredge TOLL FREE: 855-825-8679 | www.solitudelakemanagement.com | 2844 Crusader Circle, Ste 450, Virginia Beach, VA 23453 AquaticsinBrief FALL 2018 | Volume 12, Issue 3 Sediment Removal Continued from front cover in a professional waterbody manager ac- or barges to be transport- companied with a portfolio of dredging ed to disposal sites. Truck techniques. transportable mechanical There are several methods of sediment dredges such as Aquamogs removal: hydraulic dredging, clam shell/ can remove small volumes backhoe dredging, dry dredging and hydro- of sediments such as shoals raking. The chosen method will depend that prevent boater access on a number of factors including sediment to a lake, while large ocean- composition, environmental sensitivity, going dredgers are capable volumes of materials removed, budget and of digging to great depths disposal considerations. to facilitate the new era of Hydraulic dredges are the workhorse of ultra large container ships. Hydro Rake the dredging industry and are effective in In the case of the draw- moving large volumes of organic and inor- down and excavation method (dry dredg- er shallow areas that provide nursery sites ganic sediment. They work by sucking slur- ing), the whole waterbody is drained and for aquatic plants and algae. If a pond is ry (a mixture of sediment and water) from sufficient shoreline access is needed for periodically maintained through hydro- the bottom and then pumping it to an off- the trucking and hauling involved. How- raking, the need to perform a large-scale shore location through a pipeline. Hydraulic ever, most lakes cannot be emptied due dredge project may be eliminated, saving dredges have almost continuous operating to environmental concerns or high water financial resources and minimizing ecolog- cycles, allowing removal of large volumes of tables. ical disruptions. material in a short time, while minimizing Hydro-raking is frequently chosen as a While dredging is generally thought of the resuspension of material into the water method to remove nuisance aquatic veg- as an expensive activity, both your water- column due to their closed cycle system of etation, root structures, debris and soft body and your real estate portfolio ben- operation. Typically, this method is better organic sediment on a smaller scale wa- efit significantly from just a few days of suited for sediments with little debris mixed terbody. The hydro-rake can best be de- budget-friendly spot dredging at pump in, as large objects and rocks can damage scribed as a floating barge upon which is intakes, swimming areas or around boat the cutter and clog the pipeline. A large dis- mounted a backhoe with a digging bucket docks. To navigate through a wide variety posal area is also required. or rake capable of removing accumulated of sediment, aquatic plant or algae remov- Mechanical dredges (clam shell or back- muck in water as shallow as 18 inches. al options for your waterbody, we encour- hoe dredgers) use buckets to scoop out Hydro-raking can effectively target organic age you to speak with your lake or pond bottom sediment and transfer it to trucks sediment accumulations in coves and oth- management professional. n New Technology Highlight: Bioengineered Living Shorelines & Hillsides OLitude is proud to provide provides superior water-retention prop- SOX Erosion Solutions™ in erties as well as outstanding durability. our suite of erosion control The SOX system is typically filled with Sproducts. The SOX system provides an either organic compost or pond sedi- innovative, eco-friendly solution that ment. SOLitude’s hydro-rakes comple- halts hillside and shoreline erosion while ment this technology well, as it allows immediately stabilizing shorelines and us to utilize material within the water- creating a natural foundation for veg- body to fill the SOX system. Once filled etation. This solution is excellent for and secured, a native buffer of beneficial re-stabilizing and restoring the shores of lakes, ponds and canals in vegetation can be planted or sodded through the mesh and fabric communities and golf courses. The patented SOX system is made layers. Immediately after installation, the SOX mesh begins filtering from a combination of ecofriendly, biodegradable burlap fabric and buffering run-off water, removing harmful contaminants and and heavy-duty, photodegradable knitted mesh. This combination benefiting waterways all while providing ongoing erosion control. n ® 2 SOLitude Lake Management • Aquatics in Brief Case Study: Managing Aquatic Weeds and Algae in a Complex Community Canal System By Nic Butler, Aquatic Specialist Hydro Rake Liquid lime application quatic management plans vary of bladderwort and proliferating spikerush aeration systems throughout the canal as no two waterbodies or prop- within the canals. system. The aeration systems helped limit erties are alike, and there is no In addition to the annual maintenance water cloudiness and foul odors. More A“one-size-fits-all” approach to lake and program, we performed a bathymetric importantly, they helped reduce the overall pond management. Several years ago, we study in preparation for installation of a accumulation of organic sediment on the came across a particularly interesting op- bottom and available nutrients in the water portunity that exemplifies how our team is column, thereby reducing the likelihood of able to successfully utilize a variety of man- problematic algae blooms and other water agement strategies to develop an effective quality problems. and customized plan for the restoration of Additional services were added in order an aquatic ecosystem. to meet the needs of the client including In 2014, the Homeowners’ Association introduction of Triploid Grass Carp to the of a large community in North Carolina waterbodies. These carp feed on aquatic approached SOLitude for help with restor- vegetation, consuming up to three times ing balance to their system of waterbodies. their weight in food each day. Both The 500-acre development consists of a pulverized lime and liquid lime formulations 56-acre canal system, an 11-acre lake and See this project in action! were also added to raise the pH and further 11 other small ponds interspersed through- youtu.be/BwwhvRAk6uA improve water quality. The applications out the community. Significant populations youtu.be/pCtzzfdQJaA were made on two separate occasions of nuisance bladderwort (Utricularia) and and involved loading a pontoon boat with proliferating spikerush (Eleocharis baldwi- large submersed aeration system. Over a the pulverized lime and applying the lime nii) were observed through the waterbod- few days, several thousand data points throughout the entire canal system. ies, along with several algal blooms of both were recorded by traversing acres of the The combination of techniques utilized the planktonic and filamentous varieties. canal system and other lakes. With these to create a customized management plan Our first step was to collect and an- data points, we were able to produce a tailored to this unique property allowed alyze water samples from various sites highly detailed map of the waterbodies the team at SOLitude to exceed all of our throughout the system. These tests re- and what lied beneath the surface. The client’s expectations. At the end of the day, vealed several water quality issues includ- information gleaned from bathymetry it’s more than just dropping in a fountain or ing low levels of dissolved oxygen, low proves invaluable when making decisions pond aerator — we look at each situation pH readings, low alkalinity and higher about how best to manage a waterbody. with a new set of eyes and use all of the than ideal nutrient loads. Our next step Our team then worked with engineers professional management tools available was to address the aquatic plant and al- to design an aeration system to help to us to create a healthy and balanced gae growth.