Like oceans, rivers and streams, lakes have unique characteristics and needs that must be met for them to thrive. However, each lake has a unique location and aquatic ecosystem that can impact its overall health. While some lakes are used for boating, fishing and other kinds of recreation, others simply add beauty to the surrounding landscape.
Keep reading to learn how to build an annual lake management plan that can sustainably serve your needs.
Introduction to Lake Management
Creating a lake management plan can help you prevent and handle issues with your lake before they get out of hand. Like other elements in nature, lakes take time to restore and renew. A management plan can help you identify and follow through on goals for your lake.
Here are some goals you might include in a lake management plan:
- Improve the water quality
- Restore the shoreline
- Reduce the amount of algae
- Increase the fish population
- Protect the area from fertilizer runoff
Other common considerations for a lake management plan include legal compliance and public engagement. These are just a few of many goals you could include to care for your lake. Taken together, these steps will empower you to improve the lake environment, use it sustainably and invest in its future success.
Step-by-Step Process to Developing Your Lake Management Plan
Lakes are part of a larger watershed, or an area of land where water drains in a certain direction. To properly care for your lake, you need to be informed and involved in decisions that affect the area around the lake. Here are three areas to focus on as you build a lake management plan.
Water Quality Testing and Maintenance
Testing the water is one of the first steps you should take to improve the health of your lake. You can hire a professional lake management service to test the water for you. Once test results come back, you’ll know more about your lake’s water quality and how you can improve it.
Some factors to consider when testing water quality include:
- Lake water pH
- Dissolved oxygen
- Nutrient levels
- Pollutants
- Water temperature
You should plan on regular testing so that you can continue to monitor the quality of your water. This will also help you determine whether the changes you’re making are improving the water quality over time.
Aquatic Vegetation and Invasive Species Control
Another aspect of a lake management plan is how you’d like to manage aquatic vegetation. Many people dislike the look of vegetation in their lakes, and too much vegetation can upset the aquatic ecosystem. Removing excess vegetation can help you regain clear, blue water.
The nutrient level in the water can affect how much and what kind of aquatic plants grow there. By changing the nutrients in the water or adding special kinds of herbicides, you can change the ecosystem and reduce excess aquatic growth.
Managing invasive species is another challenge, since these plants and animals have a tendency to take over. The more quickly you deal with invasive species, the better. It’s good practice to stay informed and set up a process to report and respond to any invasive species that’s found in your lake.
Budget Planning for Lake Management
Managing a lake requires resources and financial investment. As part of your management plan, you can consider where costs should go first and what your annual budget looks like. What steps do you need to take first, and what could be postponed?
To determine priority and fully assess your lake’s current condition, you might consider speaking with a lake management expert. These professionals have years of experience restoring lake ecosystems and can help you build a strategy you’re confident about.
Finally, you can also consider where funding is coming from. It might be possible to secure a grant, hold a fundraising event or enlist stakeholders for help restoring your lake. The best sources of funding for you depend on where your lake is located and what it’s used for.
Implementing Your Lake Management Plan
Once you’ve done the research and organized a lake management plan, you can start to carry out the goals outlined in the plan. Before taking action, however, there are several other people and organizations you need to consult.
Permit Requirements and Compliance
Environment management is strictly regulated by both federal and state governments, as some actions can negatively affect the surrounding area and damage endangered species. Before you act on your plan, ensure you’re following all legal requirements.
Some activities that may require state permits include:
- Shoreline changes
- Aquatic plant management
- Water withdrawals
Since state regulations vary, it’s important to do research for your specific state. Some federal regulations you’ll need to comply with include the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Researching laws, compliance and permits before you take action will ensure your lake management plan is ready to go.
Engaging the Community in Lake Management
In addition to checking with government regulations, you should talk to your local community. These stakeholders can help support your lake management plan and provide recommendations.
The depth at which you include others in your planning is up to you. Several ways to involve stakeholders include:
- Inviting them to planning meetings
- Asking for their input on decisions
- Sharing educational information
The support of your community is essential for the success of your lake management plan, since the surrounding watershed will continue to impact the health of your lake. Watershed management strategies are much more successful if your local community is on board with them.
FAQs on Building Your Annual Lake Management Plan
Still have questions? Here are a few common FAQs about creating and following a lake management plan.
What Should the Goal Be When Managing a Lake?
The overarching goal is to increase the health of your lake’s aquatic ecosystem. There are many different ways to invest in your lake’s health, varying from water testing to nutrient supplementation and landscaping choices.
How Often Should Water Quality Testing Be Conducted?
As part of your lake’s maintenance plan, water testing should be conducted annually. However, you may want to test the water several times during the first year if you’re experimenting with different treatment options.
What Are the Best Practices for Controlling Invasive Species?
There are many steps you can take to control invasive species. All of them can be divided into two points — don’t bring new invasive species into the lake, and remove all invasive species that are already present.
Improve Your Lake’s Health With AEC Lakes
When you partner with Aquatic Environment Consultants (AEC), you work with professionals who have years of experience in lake management. We can help you identify what your lake needs and then meet those needs with our annual management and maintenance plans.
AEC has served lake owners for over 30 years. Some of our services include vegetation management, fish stocking, invasive species management, water quality testing, aerators and more. We serve clients across four states — Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Contact us for a consultation to learn more!
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