Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? How much will aeration help?

samkristy - The average depth of around 5-6 ft for a 4-7 acre pond in Wisconsin is trouble even with 6 to 10 aerators. Aeration can only solve a certain degree or amount of the problems of a heavily eutrophic body of water, which Dweed & Wmeal are signals for. To get the current nutrients and nutrient recycling under control or direct management one would have to conduct an aluminum sulphate treatment to abate or get the phosphorus load of the lake into a near-term managed state. However the expanse of shallow water (ave depth) will then and thereafter always be problematic for rooted weed growth or infestations even after the nutrients are moderated by whatever means. AS I mentioned earlier lawn fertrilizers will be a constant threat to the well-being of the lake.

The curent characteristics of your small lake are great for a wildlife habitat and fishing lake but not very good for a picturesque setting for a home owners association or lake front property. Not much swimming will be done in that small lake. If the average depth of your small lake was 15 -18 ft or more with a maximum depth of 25 -30 feet deep then owning a lot on the lake would be an asset rather than a liability. Look for a new lake lot with those characteristics. Those properties sell for a premium which you should now understand why.

Shallow bodies of water are hard to maintain for aestetics especially in the northern US; nature always strives hard to convert these shallower waters into wetlands or glorified swamps. Nature does not have to "work" very hard on these shallow waters due to the expanse of shallow water and the accumulated sink of nutrients.