Greetings All Danbury Residents,
This morning, Missouri Conservation Department Biologist Sarah Oakes (sarah.oakes@mdc.mo.gov) made an on-site visit to our subdivision lake.
Following is a summary of the meeting.
?· Lake Oxygen is low ?– 4.5mg / liter ?– This reading was taken at approx. 10AM ?– Evening and overnight readings would be expected to be lower
o What does this mean? ?– We run the risk of a ?‘fish kill?’ due to low oxygen levels.
o Why? ?– Overpopulation of Planktonic Algae and Storm Water runoff filled with fertilizer
o Potential Resolutions
1. Short term ?– Copper Sulfate
2. Long term ?– Empty Lake, Dredge and refill ( Mo Conservation Department will restock with fish given that we meet predefined conditions ) ?– stay tuned
?· We have reached the theoretical life span of a Missouri subdivision retention Pond ?– Our lake was drained, dredged and the shoreline reshaped in 1990.
o What does this mean? ?– In Missouri, a pond requires draining, dredging and stocking every 10 to 20 years. This is situational dependant.
o Potential Resolutions
1. Short term ?– Address Oxygen issue as discussed above
2. Long term A ?– Empty Lake, Dredge and refill ( Mo Conservation Department will restock with fish given that we meet predefined conditions ) ?– for further information please see Missouri Pond Handbook - http://www.mdc.mo.gov/documents/fish/pondhb.pdf
3. Long term B ?– Create a ?‘Natural Pond?’. This option involves aquatic plants that float on top of the lake and help manage oxygen levels naturally
4. Bacterial Products ?– Are not recommended
?· Water Fowl are bad! ?– Reduce/eliminate Geese AND Ducks ?– Fecal matter from waterfowl ?‘foul?’ the water.
o What does this mean? ?– Please do not feed the ducks.
o Potential Resolutions
1. Short term ?– Reduce/eliminate feeding. Instruct grass service to allow grass near lake to grow taller than the surrounding grass ?– Geese and do not like taller grass on the shoreline.
2. Long term ?– Expand the egg oiling efforts to include duck eggs as well as goose eggs
?· Water Aeration will not solve water color issue ?– Lake bed aeration and or a fountain increase oxygen in the lake but do not resolve water color issues.
o What does this mean? ?– It is unrealistic to expect a crystal clear or blue water pond in Missouri without chemical dyes. Aeration will produce a healthier environment for fish.
o Potential Resolutions
1. Short term ?– Not sure yet
2. Long term ?– TBD
I have requested additional information from Sarah;
1. Lake renovation contractors
2. Educational materials
3. List of aquatic plants
?· ACTION ITEMS
1. I will contact lake renovation contractors to determine recommended courses of action.
2. I will communicate contractor meetings and encourage all interested residents to attend for input.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Paul Merkel
537 Stoddard?’s Mill Dr
636-230-7866
PAULMERKEL@YAHOO.COM
This morning, Missouri Conservation Department Biologist Sarah Oakes (sarah.oakes@mdc.mo.gov) made an on-site visit to our subdivision lake.
Following is a summary of the meeting.
?· Lake Oxygen is low ?– 4.5mg / liter ?– This reading was taken at approx. 10AM ?– Evening and overnight readings would be expected to be lower
o What does this mean? ?– We run the risk of a ?‘fish kill?’ due to low oxygen levels.
o Why? ?– Overpopulation of Planktonic Algae and Storm Water runoff filled with fertilizer
o Potential Resolutions
1. Short term ?– Copper Sulfate
2. Long term ?– Empty Lake, Dredge and refill ( Mo Conservation Department will restock with fish given that we meet predefined conditions ) ?– stay tuned
?· We have reached the theoretical life span of a Missouri subdivision retention Pond ?– Our lake was drained, dredged and the shoreline reshaped in 1990.
o What does this mean? ?– In Missouri, a pond requires draining, dredging and stocking every 10 to 20 years. This is situational dependant.
o Potential Resolutions
1. Short term ?– Address Oxygen issue as discussed above
2. Long term A ?– Empty Lake, Dredge and refill ( Mo Conservation Department will restock with fish given that we meet predefined conditions ) ?– for further information please see Missouri Pond Handbook - http://www.mdc.mo.gov/documents/fish/pondhb.pdf
3. Long term B ?– Create a ?‘Natural Pond?’. This option involves aquatic plants that float on top of the lake and help manage oxygen levels naturally
4. Bacterial Products ?– Are not recommended
?· Water Fowl are bad! ?– Reduce/eliminate Geese AND Ducks ?– Fecal matter from waterfowl ?‘foul?’ the water.
o What does this mean? ?– Please do not feed the ducks.
o Potential Resolutions
1. Short term ?– Reduce/eliminate feeding. Instruct grass service to allow grass near lake to grow taller than the surrounding grass ?– Geese and do not like taller grass on the shoreline.
2. Long term ?– Expand the egg oiling efforts to include duck eggs as well as goose eggs
?· Water Aeration will not solve water color issue ?– Lake bed aeration and or a fountain increase oxygen in the lake but do not resolve water color issues.
o What does this mean? ?– It is unrealistic to expect a crystal clear or blue water pond in Missouri without chemical dyes. Aeration will produce a healthier environment for fish.
o Potential Resolutions
1. Short term ?– Not sure yet
2. Long term ?– TBD
I have requested additional information from Sarah;
1. Lake renovation contractors
2. Educational materials
3. List of aquatic plants
?· ACTION ITEMS
1. I will contact lake renovation contractors to determine recommended courses of action.
2. I will communicate contractor meetings and encourage all interested residents to attend for input.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Paul Merkel
537 Stoddard?’s Mill Dr
636-230-7866
PAULMERKEL@YAHOO.COM
