HI JHAP:
Our fish survey was one where they electofished the lake. They also did phytoplankton, zooplankton survey. We have planktonic algae after second week of June for 5 years. We know the following:
bad treatment company bombed us with copper sulfate, to try and control the algae, instead killed off all the chara. The subdivison was treating for the curly-leaf pondweed one month too late for 5 years, it became the dominant plant. Outflow was left open by the city, the county drainage ditch was backflowing into the lake. We have too many storm drains and have tested for phosphate/nitrates before, initial wash, 10 minutes into and after the rain. We are shallow former gravel pit, developed in the 70's, sediment is good, 2 surveys reveal not much change in 15 years, with average depth in the middle 1.6".1-4" overall.
Kicked the former lake mgr out, now girlfriend and I have to manage 6 lakes to fix our one. We have super duper great treatment co now (1st year), are working to ban phosphorus in fertilizer in the sub, overflow is closed in proper position now,
working with county & city to divert one drain, and clean others more often. The gizzard shad eat the zooplankton, which eat the algae. Not enough suggestions from the fish survey on how to proceed. Average size of the g.shad was 9". They felt not enough 1,2 3 year old bass. We do have 2 cormorants that come in after the shad during the summer months, they seem to get some of the bigger ones. We are also told in a very hard winter here in Michigan they may die off. We are hoping for that. Our beautiful swimming lake of the past has turned into nightmare world of the present. No water clarity, 21", have to fight everyone to get anything done. Love the Pond Boss Forum and have subscribed to the magazine. LOVE THE QUOTE, FUNNY I READ HEDY'S BIOGRAPHY SOME YEARS BACK, NOW I ONLY READ ABOUT FISH, LAKE MGMT,
TREATMENT METHODS, COUNTY STATUTES,CHEMICALS, ALGAE, HABITAT, THE WATER WORLD. At least there are cute interesting guys out there in that water world, keeps me an my girlfriend going, you know? Have to have a little innocent fun, otherwise we would give up.
2catmom
