Normally planted with native wetland plants, this floating plant raft is planted with lettuce

The concept of floating plant rafts reducing nutrients in stormwater intrigues me. The floating rafts can be planted with a huge variety of different plants. The plants do not have contact with soil, so they must get all of their nutrients from the water in the pond. Reducing nutrients in stormwater makes the pond more effective as a treatment device. It also reduces problems with ugly growths of algae and unwanted weeds.

We have been trying different types of rafts for seven or eight years. I am always very impressed with their appearance. Wetland plants, ornamental flowers and even some vegetables grow well on the rafts. (We don’t recommend eating vegetables grown in stormwater. I have lettuce growing on a raft in my recreational pond that does not capture stormwater.) Even though I have not measured their performance, the floating plant raft concept makes sense. I can’t help but believe they will be effective. The plants are much easier to establish on the rafts because the water level is always ideal and there are fewer problems with animals eating the new plants when they are anchored away from the shoreline. In a short time long, lush, thick growths of roots extend under the raft. The roots obtain all of the nutrients the plants need to grow from the water. The roots also provide excellent habitat for bacteria, micro-organisms, worms and insects. Little fish are attracted to the cover and supply of food. Larger fish are attracted to the small fish and shade provided by the raft.   

I began using foam rafts with holes cut for containing various size potted plants. We also tried some rafts that had holes cut in foam covered with coconut fiber netting. A special growing medium was placed on the netting in the depressions. Plants were planted in the growing medium and the roots grew through the netting into the water in the hole of the raft. We also tried thick recycled plastic matrix rafts. Plants were planted in growing medium in depressions in the raft. The plant roots would grow throughout the raft matrix and into the water. 

This is certainly a science which is still developing. The best design and best materials have not yet been determined. But, so far I really like a new raft system I am trying this year. It is called the BeeMat. They are distributed out of Florida. I had been aware of their product and had looked at their website. I was interested and decided to give them a try. My daughter goes to college in Daytona Beach, FL and I arranged to visit her and travel the short distance to New Smyrna Beach, FL to visit Steve Beaman, President and Owner of BeeMats. Steve has well over 30 years experience growing wetland plants in Florida. Steve and his owner son Forest now have a patent on the growing system. When I visited, Steve had many rafts planted with all kinds of plants in ponds at the farm. Some were even planted with leaf lettuce.

After I got back to work, we ordered a pallet of BeeMat materials to demonstrate the growing system to some of our clients. I mentioned the idea to a good friend of mine, Ken Walker, who owns Ken’s Produce and Garden Center on Hwy. 50 South of Garner, NC. Ken was very interested in the floating plant raft concept and decided to provide support by donating some leaf lettuce plants for me to try.

Here is the procedure I followed to plant the lettuce:

·         I removed the plant from the plastic growing tray and placed it in a bucket of pond water.

·         I rinsed all of the potting mix off the lettuce roots. (Rinsing off any soil is an advantage when planting natural wetland plants since you will be removing any duckweed, watermeal or other undesirable plants preventing their introduction.)

·         A small rectangle of coconut fiber matting is rolled around the bare root plant similar to a burrito.

·         The plant burrito is placed in a plastic plant pot containing slits cut in the sides.

·         A special clip is placed into two of the slits to keep the plant securely in the pot.

·         The same clip is used to secure the plant pot in a circular hole cut into the floating raft mat. (A 4 foot by 8 foot floating mat has 80 holes.)

Native wetland plants can be attractive while being very effective

The rest of the plant rafts will be planted with native wetland plants and deployed in clients’ ponds as demonstrations. I like the idea of being able to remove the plants from the raft in the winter. We will be removing all of the plant biomass resulting from the uptake of nutrients from the stormwater. The entire plants including all of the roots, stems and foliage is removed when the pot is removed from the raft.  When the plant is removed it does not die, decay and release nutrients back into the stormwater pond. Also, there is no raft of brown dead plants in the middle of the pond throughout the winter.

I have already picked enough of the big leaves off the lettuce to make three or four salads. The plants are doing fantastic. There are a few dead leaves that were touching the raft surface that I knew would turn brown and die. I checked the plants today, which was eight days from when they were planted and there still are no roots extending through the pots. I think it will be interesting to see how much of a root system the lettuce develops.

I know native aquatic plants will develop a heck of a root system since I have seen the mass of roots from pots I have planted in previous rafts. I just can’t help but believe floating plant rafts are going to reduce nutrients, improve performance and make stormwater devices more effective.  They are bound to be important to stormwater management in the future. I want our company to be pioneers in their utilization.

Foster Lake & Pond Management provides the full range of lake, pond and stormwater BMP services and products. These include: construction, repairs, maintenance, certified inspections, fish stocking, fisheries management, lake mapping, vegetation management, docks, fountains and aeration.

We have provided aquatic and stormwater solutions to our North Carolina customers for 30 years. Call us at: 919-772-8548 or visit: www.FosterLake.com

Bags of fish fingerlings inflated with oxygen is a good inexpensive delivery method

Don’t just dump fish you have purchased into your lake or pond. Water is the complete environment fish live in and water from different sources is different. If the water temperature or chemistry is significantly different, you make shock your fish. If your fish are shocked they may die or be unnecessarily stressed. Tempering your fish will minimize the shock and doesn’t take much time or effort.

When we deliver your fish, we always take the time to temper them. You don’t need to worry about it. However, many people prefer to save the delivery charge by picking up their fish at our holding facility. We put the fish in plastic bags with cool clean water, inflate the bag with oxygen gas and seal the bag. The bag is put into a cardboard box and loaded into your vehicle. When you get to your lake or pond, just take the box (along with a bucket or jug) to the deep part of your pond (usually near the dam). 

Here are the steps to take: 

1. Open the bags containing your fish.

2. Pour about one quart of your pond/lake water into each bag.

3. Gradually add more pond water to each bag until about eight quarts have been added over 15 minutes.

4. Use your hand to compare the water temperature of the pond water with the water in the bag.

5. If the temperature is significantly different, add more water to the bag until equal.

6. Do not release the fish in shallow water if the water is very warm. By releasing them in deeper water, they can seek out their preferred temperature.

Foster Lake & Pond Management provides the full range of lake, pond and stormwater BMP services and products. These include: construction, repairs, maintenance, certified inspections, fish stocking, fisheries management, lake mapping, vegetation management, docks, fountains and aeration.

We have provided aquatic and stormwater solutions to our North Carolina customers for 30 years. Call us at: 919-772-8548 or visit: www.FosterLake.com.    

Have you thought about your objectives and priorities for your lake or pond?

Most lake and pond owners are confused and frustrated by the assortment of “advice” they get from neighbors, web sites, biologists and well-meaning visitors to their pond. (To make sure you get only good information, refer to our web site: www.FosterLake.com.) This confusion often creates problems or makes an existing problem worse. The result is many ponds and lakes could easily be made more valuable. We have developed this guide after more than 30 years of advising recreational lake, pond and stormwater device owners in North Carolina. It is intended to answer most of your aquatic management questions. Keep this guide and it will become a valuable reference to help you maintain and manage your pond for attractiveness, productivity, environmental stewardship and more enjoyment.

With a little commitment from you, a pond or lake can become a focal point for aesthetics, friendship and family activity. It can become an attractive, productive and valuable asset to your property. The first step is to decide upon objectives for the pond. What are your priorities? A pond used primarily for swimming (natural swimming pool) will have different objectives than one used primarily for fishing or stormwater management. A swimming pond can still be fun to fish. Catfish can be stocked for fishing and sterile grass carp and colorants can control algae and weeds. Bream (bluegill and other sunfish) will nip (bite) swimmers and are often not desired. Stormwater ponds or ponds used only for aesthetics may have very few fish stocked, but the population should be balanced. A deep blue color can be maintained and fountains add drama and soothing splashing sounds. If productive fishing is the main objective, will you have avid bass fishermen or children or just family members to satisfy?     

Identify your objectives. Then, you must be willing to make a commitment to renovate and maintain the pond. It may require a significant investment, but many ponds can be made pleasurable for a reasonable investment.

Foster Lake & Pond Management provides the full range of lake, pond and stormwater BMP services and products. These include: construction, repairs, maintenance, certified inspections, fish stocking, fisheries management, lake mapping, vegetation management, docks, fountains and aeration.

We have provided aquatic and stormwater solutions to our North Carolina customers for 30 years. Call us at: 919-772-8548 or visit: www.FosterLake.com.    

Always get fountain motors repaired by manufacturer or factory authorized repair center.

Believe me; I learned that the hard way! I have been selling and maintaining fountains for 30 years. In the beginning I didn’t want to spend the time and money to ship a fountain back to the manufacturer for repairs. But, to this day I have never been able to get a fountain motor fixed properly when using a “local” motor repair shop. Also, I have never heard of a customer, who wanted to get their motor fixed locally, have success. Fountain motors are different. Send them back to the manufacturer or to a factory authorized repair center.

Most fountains for lakes and ponds have motors submersed below a float and water discharges vertically upward through a spray head of some type. The weight and force of the water discharged upward creates different stresses on the motor shaft, bearings and seals. The materials used and the design of the bearings and seals is critical for proper functioning. So is the electric cable connection to the motor. Remember, everything is under water when the motor is working.

Some less expensive fountains, usually with a 1 year warranty, have disposable motors. You simply replace the motor when it fails instead of repairing it. Other fountains, many with up to 5 year warranties, can be repaired. However, many customers choose to have the motor replaced (with another longer warranty) if the motor is old enough to be out of warranty. Many times the difference in cost for replacement is not much higher than the cost of repair.

Decorative fountains are a significant investment. Don’t make the mistake I did many times. Go ahead and get the motor fixed by the manufacturer or an authorized repair center. We want to be your source for fountains and aeration systems. Let our experience and access to the most reputable manufacturers protect your investment. We are launching a Preventive Maintenance Service so we can make sure your fountain is cleaned, maintained and protected with the least amount of hassle for you.    

Foster Lake & Pond Management provides the full range of lake, pond and stormwater BMP services and products. These include: construction, repairs, maintenance, certified inspections, fish stocking, fisheries management, lake mapping, vegetation management, docks, fountains and aeration.

We have provided aquatic and stormwater solutions to our North Carolina customers for 30 years. Call us at: 919-772-8548 or visit: www.FosterLake.com.   

Early harvest of rainbow trout from a cage in my pond

A well managed pond can be valuable in so many ways! Today was a nice sunny cool day in early March. I have a cage of rainbow trout growing in my pond and I feed them every (well almost every) afternoon. I’ve noticed some were getting quite large. A couple of our technicians, Matthew Carroll and Harry Archer, came out and helped me harvest some.

Harvesting is very simple. We raised the cage a little and tied it to the dock. We took the cage lid off and started dipping. About 50 of the largest were put on ice in a cooler. Some were released loose in the pond to supplement the existing population. (We are hosting an event with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing in April. They teach disabled active and retired military personnel to fly fish. I want plenty of trout loose in the pond for them to catch.) Of course some of the smaller trout will likely be eaten by the largemouth bass in the pond, but that is OK.

The rest of the trout were put into a barrel of water on the dock. After we finished dipping, the barrel of remaining fish was dumped back into the cage. Those fish will continue to grow until the water starts to get too warm sometime in May. After I put the cage lid back on I threw a little feed in the cage to see what would happen. Believe it or not a few of the trout started hitting the feed immediately. They were probably hungry because I had not fed them for a couple of days. I didn’t want their stomachs to have feed in them when they were cleaned after harvest.    

I expect the trout to gain about a pound of weight for each 1.5 pounds of feed I throw into the cage. My cage is 4 feet in diameter and 4 feet deep. Floats keep the top 6 inches of the cage above the water surface. We stocked about 250 trout that were about 6 inches long into the cage in October. We are already eating some. Some were released to feed the bass and provide fishing fun. The rest will be harvested in May for a big cookout or we will freeze some.

Contact us if you want to be put on a list to be notified when we get trout fingerlings again next fall. Phone: 919-772-8548 or email: info@FosterLake.com. Better still, sign up for our newsletter at:  www.FosterLake.com.

Foster Lake & Pond Management provides the full range of lake, pond and stormwater BMP services and products. These include: construction, repairs, maintenance, certified inspections, fish stocking, fisheries management, lake mapping, vegetation management, docks, fountains and aeration.

We have provided aquatic and stormwater solutions to our North Carolina customers for 30 years. Call us at: 919-772-8548 or visit: www.FosterLake.com.    

Foster Lake & Pond Management provides the full range of lake, pond and stormwater BMP services and products. These include: construction, repairs, maintenance, certified inspections, fish stocking, fisheries management, lake mapping, vegetation management, docks, fountains and aeration.

We have provided aquatic and stormwater solutions to our North Carolina customers for 30 years.

Winter algae growth rarely gets to this nuisance level

Recent warm weather in North Carolina, and probably much of the rest of the country, is creating nuisance algae problems in lakes, ponds and stormwater devices. Property owners need to know why this is occurring, what can be done and what to expect in the spring. Filamentous algae is not attractive and provides few benefits. Nevertheless, control attempts at this time of the year may not be cost effective.

Biological activity is significantly reduced during winter in the lakes, ponds and stormwater devices we manage and maintain. The water is usually much more clear because plankton (tiny plants and animals living throughout the water column) growth and reproduction is directly related to water temperature. Sometimes increased runoff from winter rains produces suspended sediment that can cloud the water, but that runoff usually adds nutrients too.

• Causes for Filamentous Algae Blooms During Winter
  • Water is clearer; sunlight can reach more of the bottom
  • Runoff of surface water, usually containing nutrients, may occur more frequently
  • Brief warm spells can significantly warm the water along shallow shorelines
  • Aeration/circulation devices are often turned off during the winter
  • Cold water algae species are different and adapted to winter conditions
  • Biological controls such as fish, bacteria and enzymes are much less effective
  • Options for Managing Filamentous Algae During Winter
    • Live with it if it is not at a nuisance level. It is usually temporary and won’t cause any problems, particularly in early and mid-winter
    • Mechanically remove, with a dip net or rake, clumps or patches of algae
    • Reduce sunlight penetration with lake dyes or colorants
    • Use a peroxide based algaecide, which doesn’t require as much active uptake by the algae cells as copper based algaecides. Use granular formulations for bottom growing algae and liquids for surface growing algae
    • Determine if ultrasonic algae control devices are appropriate and cost-effective
    • Plan to improve the biological health of the lake or pond during the warm growing season so conditions don’t exist that encourage nuisance algae growth

The last point is particularly important for long term results. Since the biological and environmental activity is so much greater in warm water, improved conditions will often prevent winter algae problems.

• What You can do During the Summer
  • Reduce nutrients flowing into the lake, pond or stormwater device
  • Circulate and/or aerate the water
  • Determine if beneficial bacteria/enzyme products are recommended
  • Determine if sterile grass carp are needed and perhaps tilapia fish depending upon your management objectives
  • Plant beneficial plants along the shoreline or on floating rafts

Foster Lake & Pond Management provides the full range of lake, pond and stormwater BMP services and products. These include: construction, repairs, maintenance, certified inspections, fish stocking, fisheries management, lake mapping, vegetation management, docks, fountains and aeration.

We have provided aquatic and stormwater solutions to our North Carolina customers for 30 years.

FL&PM pond should be good for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

With about 35 advanced fingerling rainbow trout loose in my pond and a cage full of probably 200 growing like crazy, I think we can give disabled active military and veterans some fly fishing fun next spring. Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) knows the physical and emotional rehabilitation capacity of fly fishing to these wounded warriors. The first program was started at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC in 2005. The charitable organization was incorporated in Maryland in 2007. Since then 142 programs in 46 states have begun. Perhaps we can help some in North Carolina.

I’ve never considered myself much of a fly fisherman. I started catching bream (various sunfish, mostly bluegill) on a popping bug in farm ponds when I was 12 to 14 years old. I even built my own rod one time and keep one in my truck now. But, I am certainly not worthy of being considered a “fly fisher”. However, Shannon Overton, my stepson’s Dad loves to fly fish and is a member of the Triangle Fly Fishing Club (www.TriangleFlyFishers.org). He enjoys fishing my pond and suggested I investigate Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. I’m excited about possibly being able to help out.

My pond is only about 2/3 of an acre, but is really fun to fish. We also swim in it so there are no bream, which often nibble on swimmers. (My daughter thinks that is “ickie”.) All of the fish are trained on feed and of course there is normal predation. We always keep some of the rainbow trout we sell in the fall and stock some in my pond. We turn a few loose and put the rest in a cage to be fed throughout the winter. Many will be a pound each by the spring when they must be harvested to eat before the water gets too warm.

There are no trees or brush on the pond shoreline, so fly fishing is easy. There are two docks, a wood dock and a floating Connect-A-Dock. The floating dock has steps going down a slope, but the wood dock is level with the top of the dam and should be easily accessible with wheel chairs. I just need to install a rail along the edge. I can only begin to imagine the thrill of watching some of our freedom fighting heroes yanking and reeling, with fly rod tips high in the air, grinning at those fighting rainbow trout.

I urge you to learn more about Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (www.ProjectHealingWaters.org). Those of you who appreciate fishing can understand how therapeutic this program can be. Why not volunteer and see how much you benefit.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND BEST WISHES IN THE NEW YEAR from Foster Lake & Pond Management!

Foster Lake & Pond Management provides the full range of lake, pond and stormwater BMP services and products. These include: construction, repairs, maintenance, certified inspections, fish stocking, fisheries management, lake mapping, vegetation management, docks, fountains and aeration.

We have provided aquatic and stormwater solutions to our North Carolina customers for 30 years.

Bryan is adding AquaMats to improve water quality and provide fish cover in a stormwater pond.

Stormwater has been identified as the biggest source of water pollution in North Carolina. Foster Lake & Pond Management has waged war on stormwater pollution for 30 years. I am sure we have inspected, maintained and repaired more stormwater ponds than any other company in North Carolina. That makes us stormwater warriors!

We are stormwater warriors because we are experienced fighters skilled in combating sedimentation, shoreline erosion and polluted runoff water. We are engaged energetically in the activity and our reward is a deep sense of accomplishment and purpose. We know what has and has not worked in the past. Furthermore, everyone is constantly training by studying and trying out new techniques and equipment. The education level of our employees is unsurpassed. Everyone has a college degree and several have graduate degrees or are currently working on graduate degrees. The degrees include fisheries, ecology, environmental science, microbiology, wildlife management and chemistry.

The enemies we face include excess nutrients in runoff, sediment, invasive weeds, bare soil, displaced stone, unhealthy fish populations, corroding drain systems, irresponsible property owners and brush or trees growing in the wrong place. Extremes provided by Mother Nature complicate our battle plan. Changing regulations, increasing costs, the development of new weapons and customer/client relationships require strategies to be reconsidered.    

Our weapons range from dip nets to sprayers to water test meters to excavators to microscopes to fountains. Our attack vehicles include kayaks, aluminum and fiberglass boats, skid steer loaders, pickup trucks, dump trucks and various mowers. For communication we use computers, smart phones, projectors, fax machines and tablets. Logistical support is provided by the most dependable suppliers, vendors, transporters and office personnel available.

We win battles but the war goes on. Surveillance is in the form of regular inspections and monitoring. Maintenance of mechanical systems, vegetation, inlets and outlets keeps the stormwater Best Management Practices performing properly. Correcting deteriorating conditions avoids significant losses of function and money. We don’t take our role as stormwater warriors lightly. We realize we can make your community a better place by doing our job as good as possible.

Foster Lake & Pond Management provides the full range of lake, pond and stormwater BMP services and products. These include: construction, repairs, maintenance, certified inspections, fish stocking, fisheries management, lake mapping, vegetation management, docks, fountains and aeration.

We have provided aquatic and stormwater solutions to our North Carolina customers for 30 years.

We can pack your fish in bags inflated with oxygen.

Many of our customers prefer to pick up fish for stocking their lakes, ponds or stormwater BMPs. They like to visit our holding facility and see the tanks full of various sizes and species of fish. They also like to avoid the delivery costs. People are fascinated by the way we count the fish, put them in plastic bags inflated with pure oxygen and seal the bags. The bags full of fish are then put into boxes we provide or into ice chests they bring.

It is important to temper your fish before releasing them to avoid shock which may result from too much difference in temperature or water chemistry. If we deliver the fish, we go through a process to prepare the fish to be introduced into your pond. However, if you are stocking the fish the following simple steps will insure the health and survival of your fish.

1.Upon arriving at the shoreline of your lake, open the bags containing your fish.

2.Pour about one quart of your pond/lake water into each bag.

3.Gradually add more pond water to each bag until about eight quarts (2 gallons) have been added over 15 minutes.

4.Use your hand to compare the water temperature of the pond water with the water in the bag.

5.If the temperature is significantly different, add more water to the bag until the temperatures feel about the same.

6.Do not release the fish in shallow water if the pond water is very warm. By releasing the fish in deeper water, they can seek out their preferred temperature.

IF YOU HAD FISH DIE DURING TRANSPORTING

We are very experienced with shipping fish in plastic bags.  However, occasionally things go wrong.  We always add 5% additional fish to your order at no charge.  That usually covers weak fish of fish damaged during handling and transporting.  If you find dead fish when you open the bag, follow this procedure.  We will make sure you are satisfied.

1.Remove and count the dead fish.

2.If more than 5% of the fish you ordered are dead, contact us immediately after releasing the surviving fish.

3.We will advise you about further procedures.

Foster Lake & Pond Management provides the full range of lake, pond and stormwater BMP services and products. These include: construction, repairs, maintenance, certified inspections, fish stocking, fisheries management, lake mapping, vegetation management, docks, fountains and aeration.

We have provided aquatic and stormwater solutions to our North Carolina customers for 30 years.