Pond and lake management
About the management of lakes, ponds and biotopes
The ecology of lakes and ponds is complex and changes with time and environmental factors. Very few small systems are self-managing and most need intervention to remove weed, leaves and plant debris at some point. If this is not managed, excessive nutrient leads to runaway weed growth followed by loss of dissolved oxygen in the water.
Plant and animal communities evolve over time and it can sometimes be difficult to maintain a balance that is visually and environmentally acceptable. Biting mosquitoes and midges can severely detract from the public's enjoyment of a lake or pond. Our team can monitor these changes and suggest or undertake interventions to restore the status quo. We can track insect populations and help control those like mosquitoes which might spread out and cause a nuisance to those living and working nearby.
Our Biologists monitor water chemistry with a series of tests to establish which nutrients are entering the system and how the chemical makeup affects plant and animal life. They also sample the water regularly at a number of locations and do counts of the invertebrate insect life to get a feel for the number and range of species.
These insects are often those that eat algae and keep the water clear so they are important. The insects also serve as prey for larger species including damsel flies, dragonflies and fish which not only help to keep the numbers in check but also add to the visual amenity of the water body.
The plants in the lake or pond can be used to generate oxygen, capture and lock up excessive nutrients, provide cover for fish and animals, and winter feed for birds, as well as visual amenity for the owners. So the range of plant species and their health is important too.
Keeping all of these differing and sometimes competing factors in balance is a difficult challenge and the key to doing this is understanding how all the interactions work and tracking the changes so that intervention when needed, is appropriate.
Microbee's Biologists deliver this service on a number of ponds and lakes, keeping running records of changes in water chemistry and emergent species.
Micrbee's Ecologists deliver all aspects of reedbed filtration systems and management.
Microbee's Zoologists cover the larger animal and bird species and deliver management solutions to problematic species such as Muntjac Deer or Canada Geese.
Microbee's technicians are used to help remove excessive plants and algae, catch and move fish using seine netting or electro-fishing, clean cascades, cut reeds etc.
Microbee also runs a Geese Peace program to manage Canada Geese problems using a trained dog.
