LakePro, Inc. is pleased to offer a variety of treatment solutions for weed and algae control. We use only products that are approved for use in Michigan waters by the EPA, Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). We offer Chemistry, and Biological solutions, in a seasonal or menu type program. Our approach allows for pricing flexibility and gives the association more control over how their money is spent. By offering some services only as additional options, we avoid treating areas or plant species that may be a low priority to our clients. By offering a menu program the association is in complete control of the treatment out comes and costs. Through our network of partners we can also offer mechanical harvesting, dredging, aeration and even goose control.
Please look at our expanded biological bacteria program. We feel a lot of ponds and/or lakes would benefit from this program. New technology, in this area, has greatly improved the effectiveness of this product. Our confidence in this new technology has prompted us to recommend this product.
What is it?
Biological Bacteria are living micro-organisms. When introduced into your lake or pond they compete with algae for nutrients. The blend of bacteria, is particularly aggressive in devouring “muck” and other bio-mass that accumulates on the bottom of water bodies. The newest products contain more than 30 million organisms per gram of powder. They contain naturally occurring bacteria and bacterial enzymes. The cultures are derived from naturally occurring soil and water bacteria that use only non-living organic matter as food sources. They have not been genetically altered or manipulated in any manner.
How does it work?
These organisms work in concert to degrade specific organic matter in the water column. The resulting material is then further degraded by other components of the blend. Finally the matter is reduced to water and carbon dioxide.
Benefits
Removes decaying organic wastes such as leaves, dead algae and weeds, grass clippings, excess fertilizer runoff, and animal wastes. Plus it eliminates murky water, odors, nitrates, ammonia, and bottom sludge caused by organic waste build up.
Is it safe?
The latest products have no effect on turf grass or ornamental shrubs and flowers. They are completely harmless to fish, and in fact improve the factors that sustain a robust and healthy fish population. The University of Florida, institute of food and agricultural sciences have tested the products and found them to be safe. They have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) not only for human exposure, but also for use in commercial fish farms and other operations that result in eventual human consumption.
What are the drawbacks?
These products are slow acting. Some effort by the residents, to reduce organic matter and nutrients put into the water, may be required. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on the rate of introduction of nutrients into the water body. Though results begin immediately, visible results often do not occur until the second season of treatments.
Education is a key component to any integrated mosquito management program. With just one or two sprays around the lakes or ponds you will immediately notice a dramatic reduction in new mosquitoes.
Just one mosquito bite can transmit West Nile virus or other diseases. To prevent illness from WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases, remember:
Help reduce the number of mosquitoes in areas outdoors where you work or play, by spraying sources of standing water. In this way, you reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed. We can help with this service around your lake or pond, its part of our additional services.
The aeration equipment we sell requires a minimum of equipment or experience for installation and maintenance, we offer these services on request. Our experienced personnel can provide a fast, efficient installation, start up and water quality check at your lake or pond. We can provide regular equipment maintenance and storage to insure maximum equipment life and continued effective operation.
Click below to review the image gallery of fountains and aeration.
Contaminated waters can be as clear as the water from your tap. A laboratory test is necessary to determine whether dangerous numbers of bacteria are present. Is your water-body safe?
There are many possible sources of bacteria that contaminate surface water. Leaking septic systems, waterfowl and even raccoons can sometimes be an important source of contamination.
In addition, oxygen is by far the single most important water condition to monitor. Failure to closely monitor oxygen can be costly. Weather conditions and wind conditions can quickly change oxygen levels.
The testing covers:
- Total Dissolved Oxygen
- Phosphorus
- Water Temperature
- Nitrogen
- Fecal Indicator bacteria (E. Coli)
- Dissolved oxygen
- Conductivity
- Total dissolved solids
- pH
- Alkalinity
- Other parameters are available as options
Alum is widely recognized as a great way to reduce phosphates and create crystal clear water. Alum is aluminum sulfate, when the aluminum ions bond with the phosphate molecules they become insoluble in the water, no longer available as a nutrient. The aluminum ions also attract dirt particles which, when drawn together, become heavy and settle to the bottom resulting in clearer water! Lake and Pond sediments treated with alum may release fewer nutrients and prevent excessive alga blooms. Alum will not affect the growth of aquatic plants except for reducing algae and improving water clarity. The application of alum involves calculations based upon the pH, hardness and water volume.
Alum Treatments to Control Phosphorous in Lakes from the Wisconsin DNR.
Swimmers Itch is caused by parasites that are carried by migratory water fowl, usually ducks and geese. As part of this parasites life cycle snails are the other host that is necessary for the cycle to be completed. The reason this adversely affects swimmers is that the parasite on its return trip to the ducks and geese will mistake swimmers as it's final target, causing an itching in the area where it penetrates the swimmers skin. Swimmers Itch will show up as little red pin pricks on the swimmers skin that has been exposed to water that contains this organism. Swimmer Itch is seldom serious, yet it can cause itching and discomfort up to 7 days. Swimmer Itch is commonly found in many fresh water lakes and ponds that are visited by the water fowl.
Here in Michigan and Illinois we seldom find Swimmer Itch to be a problem in ponds, we feel the reason for this is that most of the ponds in our area are stocked heavily with Large Mouth Bass, which is an excellent predator of snails. Larger lakes however with lower concentrations of large predator fish, can often be plagued with Swimmers itch.
Snails are usually found in large weed beds that are found around the shoreline of larger lakes. The only treatment that we are aware of is to treat the weed beds where the snails are with 40 pounds of Copper Sulfate and 80 pounds of lime per surface acre, which will kill the snails and stop the cycle of the parasite. This treatment can be very effective on larger lakes where that area to be treated represents only an extremely small portion of the over all area of the lake. This treatment done in a pond less than a couple of surface acres could kill off all aquatic life and damage the environmental balance of the pond for a long time.