Early Results of the Lake Anita Louise
Aeration System
Let ’ s start from the beginning . What does an aeration system do ? Aeration can improve water quality in small lakes or ponds by increasing oxygen , and vertically circulating the water . Among other benefits , this can : ( a ) reduce the excess algae nutrients in and murkiness of the water , ( b ) improve the water clarity and ( c ) limit duck week cover ( the original project goal ). You can see a visible difference in the water by viewing the before-andafter photos ( see figures 1 and 2 ) provided by Rick Holtz and Eric Roberts .
Aeration can have other benefits as well :
Decreases Mosquito Activity
Mosquitos require still water to produce and hatch eggs . Circulating water can help to reduce viable mosquito breeding habitat . Reduces Bottom Sediment
Organic matter ( dead fish , algae mats , etc .) decomposes much more slowly under low oxygen conditions , and this leads to the buildup of bottom sediment in the lake . Aeration can reduce the overall accumulation of organic sediment at the bottom of the lake , potentially delaying futuredelaying future dredging .
Reduces Foul Odors
When plant materials decay without oxygen in the lake bottom , hydrogen sulfide gas ( rotten egg smell ) is released . As bottom water mixes and becomes oxygenated through lake aeration , the hydrogen sulfide gas that causes foul odors is greatly reduced .
Reduces Excessive Algae Growth
The oxygen that is added to the lake through aeration converts phosphorus ( a key algae nutrient ) to molecules that are not usable by algae as food . Lake aeration can also effectively mix algae spores towards deeper parts of the lake , where there ’ s less sunlight needed for growth .
Enhances Fish Habitat
Stratification occurs when seasonal changes in water temperatures cause distinct layers of water to form at different depths based on differences in water densities . Mixing is limited across these stratifications leading to oxygen depleted conditions at depth where decaying organic matter uses up the available oxygen . Fish are forced to shallower waters and sometimes fish kills result .
18 LakeTalk October 2023