Pond and lake aging is part of the natural life-cycle of an aquatic body.  As aquatic features mature, they naturally become more shallow and ultimately transform into wetlands and marshlands.  When this occurs, oppressive vegetative species, like Canadian Cattails, thrive and choke out the native flora.  There are several ways to mitigate or reverse the effects of this process.  As measures are taken in this spirit, it is important to preserve or establish a healthy riparian border.  A riparian border can take many forms but in all cases it acts as a buffer between the surrounding landscape and an aquatic body.  CPL looks through the scope of a wide lens to ensure that immediate and long term goals are achieved when performing reclamation efforts and subsequent riparian development.

During the life span of an aquatic resource, water depth will shallow and the wetland bench will increase in breadth.  The input of filling material is from both internal and external sources.  Intuitively, water and wind introduce organic and inorganic materials into water bodies through runoff.  Simultaneously, organic processes in the water such as vegetative growth and fish activity contribute to build-up throughout their respective life-cycles.  As aquatic resources accumulate these materials, hospitable areas for nuisance vegetation, such as Cattail growth, become established along the encroaching wetland margins.

The initial step in reversing the process of pond and lake aging is to manually remove material.  This action can manifest itself in the form of simple Cattail removal or, the more extreme measure, dredging.  In the common instance where Cattail removal is the ideal method of reclamation, our specialists use a variety of hand and mechanical tools to cut and withdraw the target vegetation.  It is valuable to note that the removal performed by CPL is discriminate, meaning that our trained professionals are capable of distinguishing between desirable plants and unwanted ones.  Optionally, enzymes can subsequently be applied on the remaining leaf sheaths to ensure that the root system is destroyed and no regrowth of existing plants will occur.  This method of removal will allow water to flow more freely and for the re-establishment of desirable native vegetation to be replanted in effort to create a healthy riparian border.  In the extreme circumstances, where sediment accumulation has occurred to the point where simple Cattail removal is insufficient, dredging should be implemented.  In these cases, heavy equipment is required to remove large amounts of sediment and sledge to return a water body to a healthy state.  The amount of material and the manner in which it is removed are designed to create the ideal slope and depth in the littoral zone of the resource.

As noted above, in the section Aeration Systems, proper oxygenation of a water body is the most effective method to prevent the accumulation of organic matter.  Most aquatic management plans should incorporate this tool as a primary defense to pond and lake aging, as well as in regard to fish and general ecological health.

After the initial step of physical material removal is complete, it is essential to protect your investment by establishing an appropriate riparian border.  Colorado Pond and Lake proudly partners with local ecologists who specialize in the re-establishment of desirable, native plant species.  The flora, such as native sedges, rushes, and saltgrasses, our ecologists promote not only look pleasant but serve as an important ecological niche.  While established vegetation acts as a buffer between land and water to absorb nutrient and metal inputs, it also functions as a habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna critical to a well-balanced aquatic environment.

Please contact our consultants today.  We will work with you to establish a plan that will reclaim your water and make it beautiful for decades to come.