In Favor of Fountain

I'm on the Landscape Committee, and I believe that Marjie is correct about running this by the committee first. The committee decided not to pursue a second fountain until people had sufficient time to respond to the first fountain. I would be in favor of a second fountain for several reasons one of which has to do with algae control. Two experts told us that a fountain wouldn't help. However, Greg Swalwell and I visited a lake smaller than ours where a fountain helped tremendously in controlling algae, etc. I tend to go with my own personal observations over expert opinions.

In Favor of Fountain

I'm on the Landscape Committee, and I believe that Marjie is correct about running this by the committee first. The committee decided not to pursue a second fountain until people had sufficient time to respond to the first fountain. I would be in favor of a second fountain for several reasons one of which has to do with algae control. Two experts told us that a fountain wouldn't help. However, Greg Swalwell and I visited a lake smaller than ours where a fountain helped tremendously in controlling algae, etc. I tend to go with my own personal observations over expert opinions.

More clarification

I'm also a Landscape Committee Member. What I recall the TP&W urban biologist and The Lake Doctor both saying was that fountains are most effective as aerators in small ponds and have limited effects in large or deep ponds. Variables include the size of the fountain's motor and the amount of water that it's actually moving. I don't think that either person said that the fountain would be totally ineffective in our ponds -- only that the water may be deep enough that we'll have to take additional measures to contain the algae. Where they differed in that respect is that the Lake Doctor was a proponent for chemical control of the algae while the TP&W urban biologist recommended using buffer zones of aquatic plants to control the algae. Aubrey has observed that fountains can be effective in a smaller pond. Time will tell whether ours is effective in our pond/lake. Since the valve has been changed, it is very obvious that we have more water movement across the pond. Perhaps we'll have a favorable affect.

By Landscape Committee Member

against another fountain

I, on the other hand, tend to value professional opinions over the observations, albeit of the first hand variety, of the untrained eye. we have [or had until we added an unnecessary fountain] a beautiful, natural pond area. let's not screw it up even further and add to our costs by installing a second fountain.