What Are Tannins? Have you ever come across pond water with a distinct tea-like colour? This visual effect, often seen in ponds with a significant amount of organic debris, such as fallen leaves or plant matter, is likely due to tannins. Tannins are organic compounds predominantly found in various plant tissues, including leaves, bark, and wood. They belong to a larger group of compounds known as polyphenols. When tannins dissolve in water, they can impart a distinct brownish hue. This process is similar to making tea, hence the term “tea-staining.” Despite the dramatic appearance, it’s impor ..read more

As winter comes to an end in Canada, the El Niño weather pattern has brought unexpected challenges, particularly to the Canadian Prairies. The lack of snowfall has raised concerns about water scarcity and its impact on ponds, water tables, and agricultural landscapes. We’ll explore the potential consequences of a dry winter, discuss various strategies to address water shortages, and highlight proactive measures for maintaining the health of ponds in the face of challenging conditions. The Impact of a Dry Winter The absence of substantial snowfall not only affects the picturesque winter landsca ..read more

Components of a Pond or Dugout: Many of us have several uses for large ponds on our properties. These ponds are typically ¼ to 2 acres in size and range in depth. Depending on what you want to use the pond for and your pond’s water profile, there are multiple ways of treating it to keep it healthy and visually appealing. Ponds and dugouts include nonliving components such as rocks, gravel, water, soil, air, and other elements that cohabit with living things, including plants, animals, and bacteria. When these components are in constant dialogue with one another, a self-sustaining “bloom of lif ..read more

Dugout ponds, storm retention ponds, fishery lakes, wastewater lagoons, and natural swimming ponds can face challenges like poor water quality, stagnation, and the depletion of oxygen levels, which can harm aquatic life and compromise their ecological balance. Fortunately, a powerful and sustainable solution can significantly improve these water bodies’ health and vitality: water aeration. In this blog, we will explore the concept of water aeration and its wide-ranging benefits for these diverse aquatic environments. Understanding Water Aeration Water aeration is a process that involves a ..read more

Introduction: Components Of A Healthy Pond Ecosystem Although not a living organism, storm retention ponds are regarded as thriving ecosystems supporting diverse aquatic life forms and maintaining excellent water quality. To understand the significance of a healthy pond ecosystem, let’s explore its various components and ecological processes. Biotic Components: Ponds harbour many living organisms, including plants, algae, bacteria, fungi, insects, fish, amphibians, and other aquatic animals. These organisms interact with one another and their environment, establishing complex ecological rela ..read more

Algal Blooms And Our Ecosystems Algal blooms are becoming more prevalent within our ecosystems as the temperature rises and the excess amounts of nutrients in our bodies of water increase. Harmful algal blooms are the devastating result of various human and environmental factors. It is important to do what we can to prevent algal blooms from occurring as it affects the wellness of the body of water altogether. As algal blooms greatly impact health, they impede the ability to use ponds recreationally. Bacteria decompose algae when it dies, which removes oxygen from the water and potentially kil ..read more

What is Electrofishing? Electrofishing is a fishing technique that captures and monitors fish species by running a low electrical current through the water. When the fish come into contact with the electric current, they are immobilized, and trained professionals can easily capture them. It is an important tool in fisheries research, management, and maintenance programs. Electrofishing is an efficient and effective way of collecting data on fish populations. It provides a non-destructive way to survey fish populations and their characteristics in shallow bodies of water and deeper depths.&nbs ..read more

What is Copper Sulphate / Bluestone? Copper sulphate, or Bluestone, is a very toxic, odourless, crystalline, blue substance. In a production setting, sulphate of copper is produced by heating copper metal or copper oxidation with heated concentrated h2so4 or diluted sulphuric acid. Keeping the ecosystem of ponds and lakes in good shape is a challenging endeavour. Artificial lakes and ponds and those in agricultural or urban settings tend to have higher concentrations of nutrients and pollution, making them ideal breeding grounds for algae. Some forms of algae are common and even helpful to the ..read more

What is a Lake Management? Lake management manages a lake’s resources and environment to maximize its capabilities and potential. It involves various activities, such as water quality monitoring, nutrient management, controlling aquatic vegetation, recreational use management and habitat protection. To ensure successful lake management, the needs of the local environment, fish and wildlife resources, recreational uses and other stakeholders must be considered. What is in the water, and why does it matter? Environmental water quality monitoring is critical to managing water resources in ponds a ..read more

What is a Natural Swimming Pond? Aside from adding beauty to your outdoor space, natural swim ponds function as your conventional pool without using pumps, filters or chemicals. The main goal of a natural swimming pond is to maintain a balanced ecosystem that naturally promotes healthy, clean water. Why have a natural swimming pond? Aside from being beyond stunning due to their beauty, there are many other reasons to build a natural swimming pond. Below we will review the six reasons to create a natural swim pond. No Harmful Chemicals We all know the feeling of leaving a chlorine pool and hav ..read more