Lake Aeration
Clear Lake is shown to be overly rich in nutrients and minerals that induce excessive plant and algae growth. One of the most widely treatments are aeration systems. Aeration is the process of pumping compressed air into the bottom waters of a lake or pond. Aeration creates two related benefits that are vital to maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Benefit 1: Circulation. Water needs to be constantly moving to prevent stagnation and toxic chemicals from building up.
Benefit 2: Oxygenation. Insufficient oxygen levels lead to poor water chemistry and impair our lake fishery.
Aeration systems create bubbles that form an ultra-wide column of upward moving water. This upward water “stirs and turns the lake over,” allowing oxygen to be absorbed at the lake’s surface. Aeration systems continuously lift bottom water to the surface where gases are expelled and oxygen is absorbed. This allows colonies of beneficial bacteria to once again flourish along the bottom of the water. Nutrient levels decline and water clarity increases. Oxygen-related fish-kills are eliminated, sports fisheries are improved, and fish can expand their territory into the formerly oxygen-deprived portions of the water.
Other Benefits of Aeration Include:
- Improved water quality
- Improved water chemistry
- Reduced odors
- More favorable and balanced food supply
- Increase of beneficial bacteria
- Mosquito control
- Better fish habitat
Without aeration, dissolved nutrients, such as phosphates, can flow into water and over-enrich it to the point that stimulates the disproportionate growth of unwanted aquatic plants such as harmful blue-green algae. The undesirable growth can then consume oxygen and rob fish and beneficial plants of what they need as well as produce toxins. Water with no oxygen circulating through it becomes stagnant and is likely to grow unsightly algae that can cause rashes, illness and in some cases death of people or pets from dangers such as cyanobacteria. In addition, standing water gives mosquitoes the perfect breeding habitat.
If you would like to purchase an aerator or contribute to buying one and repair of the existing ones, please consider DONATING.
