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Restoring The Balance of Nature

Restoring the Balance of Nature

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Lecture Presentation originally given at Montana State University for the International Clean Water Symposium

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Page 1: Restoring the Balance of Nature

Restoring The Balance of Nature

Page 2: Restoring the Balance of Nature

Healing Our Waters, Caring For The Land

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The Day After

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Tomorrow

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The Cutting EdgeThe Cutting Edge

A Fresh Approach To Wetland A Fresh Approach To Wetland Restoration and Management Restoration and Management

From natural swimming ponds From natural swimming ponds to bog gardens, bio-filters, to bog gardens, bio-filters, floating islands and pro-floating islands and pro-

bioticsbiotics

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Wetland RestorationWetland RestorationStream CorridorStream Corridor

Mahopac High SchoolMahopac High School

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Challenges and Impact Challenges and Impact FactorsFactors

►Point source pollutionPoint source pollution►Poor water qualityPoor water quality►Elevated temperatureElevated temperature►Negative wildlife valueNegative wildlife value►Poor example for community Poor example for community

planning planning and managementand management►Improper lawn care management Improper lawn care management ►Disconnected eco-toneDisconnected eco-tone

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Child Labor For Science And Community

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Shelf Sculpting

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Completion

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Pond and Lake Pond and Lake RestorationRestoration

Use of Continuous Laminar Flow Use of Continuous Laminar Flow Inversion/Oxygenation to Restore Water QualityInversion/Oxygenation to Restore Water Quality

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The ProblemThe Problem

►Increased development activities = Increased Increased development activities = Increased nutrient load on water bodiesnutrient load on water bodies

►Increased nutrient load caused by:Increased nutrient load caused by:

Increase in hard-surfaced areasIncrease in hard-surfaced areas

Increased use of fertilizersIncreased use of fertilizers

Malfunctioning wastewater systemsMalfunctioning wastewater systems

Poor erosion controlPoor erosion control

Improper waste disposalImproper waste disposal

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Controlling InputControlling Input► Watershed Controls: Controlling the quantity Watershed Controls: Controlling the quantity

and quality of run-offand quality of run-offAdequate Erosion ControlAdequate Erosion ControlLimit hard-surface, increase absorptionLimit hard-surface, increase absorptionTreat point-source inputsTreat point-source inputsEstablish buffer zones for nonpoint-sourceEstablish buffer zones for nonpoint-source

►Watershed Controls : Only as effective as Watershed Controls : Only as effective as the enforcement action behind their the enforcement action behind their implementationimplementation

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Pond/Lake Natural CapacityPond/Lake Natural CapacityLakes have a Lakes have a

natural capacity to natural capacity to cleanse cleanse themselvesthemselves

► Ecosystem within the lake Ecosystem within the lake assimilates nutrientsassimilates nutrients

► Excess nutrients cause Excess nutrients cause the ecosystem to become the ecosystem to become “unbalanced”“unbalanced”

► Excess nutrients Excess nutrients stimulate the growth of stimulate the growth of nuisance algae/plant lifenuisance algae/plant life

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Chemical TreatmentChemical Treatment► Traditional Traditional

method of algae method of algae controlcontrol

► Usually copper Usually copper compoundscompounds

► Applied at water Applied at water surface or to surface or to floating mats of floating mats of algaealgae

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Problems with Chemical Problems with Chemical TreatmentTreatment

► Cannot pre-treat, must wait for the problem Cannot pre-treat, must wait for the problem to occurto occur

► Effectiveness of treatment short lived settles-Effectiveness of treatment short lived settles-out/dilutes-outout/dilutes-out

► Does nothing to prevent accumulation of Does nothing to prevent accumulation of nutrients in the water bodynutrients in the water body

► Can result in copper resistant plants and Can result in copper resistant plants and algaealgae

► Can accelerate the accumulation of organic Can accelerate the accumulation of organic sedimentssediments

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The Beginning of the The Beginning of the “Real” Problem“Real” Problem

►Organic sediment begins to Organic sediment begins to decompose aerobicallydecompose aerobically

Quickly consumes available oxygen Quickly consumes available oxygen causing causing anaerobic conditionsanaerobic conditions

►Low Oxygen eliminates aerobic Low Oxygen eliminates aerobic organismsorganisms

►Anaerobic decomposition – slow, Anaerobic decomposition – slow, releases nutrientsreleases nutrients

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The Real ProblemThe Real Problem► Anaerobic conditionsAnaerobic conditions

Slower breakdown Slower breakdown than aerobicthan aerobic

Limits habitat and Limits habitat and food food sources for sources for aerobic aerobic organismsorganisms

Mobilizes Mobilizes nutrients nutrients contained contained in the in the sedimentssediments

Stimulates growth Stimulates growth of of nuisance algaenuisance algae

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Anaerobic ConditionsAnaerobic Conditions

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Treating the SymptomsTreating the Symptoms

► Chemical Chemical TreatmentsTreatments

Valuable tool for the Valuable tool for the aesthetic aesthetic management of a management of a lakelake

butbut

It does not eliminate It does not eliminate the problemthe problem

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Lake Restoration – Dealing With Lake Restoration – Dealing With the Problemthe Problem

► To restore a lake:To restore a lake:Reduce Reduce

nutrient nutrient input input where where possiblepossible

Supplement Supplement the the natural natural processes processes that that maintain lake maintain lake health –”health –”life life supportsupport” for the ” for the lakelake

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The Natural ProcessThe Natural Process

► The natural processes within the lake begin to The natural processes within the lake begin to breakdown when they are limited or eliminated breakdown when they are limited or eliminated by low oxygen levelsby low oxygen levels

► Aerobic organisms are more efficient at Aerobic organisms are more efficient at digesting organic material than anaerobic digesting organic material than anaerobic organismsorganisms

► Aerobic organisms assimilate nutrients into Aerobic organisms assimilate nutrients into increased body mass and reproduction – part increased body mass and reproduction – part of the food chain for fishof the food chain for fish

► Maintaining aerobic conditions supports and Maintaining aerobic conditions supports and enhances food chain uptake of nutrientsenhances food chain uptake of nutrients

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The Clean-Flo ApproachThe Clean-Flo Approach

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Clean-Flo Natural Clean-Flo Natural Inversion/OxygenationInversion/Oxygenation

► Restores and Restores and maintains aerobic maintains aerobic conditionsconditions

► Employs natural Employs natural non-turbulent non-turbulent inversion to aerate inversion to aerate from top to from top to bottombottom

► Allows natural Allows natural processes to processes to functionfunction

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Speeding-UpSpeeding-Up the Process the Process

►To address years of organic “muck” To address years of organic “muck” build-up it is sometimes beneficial build-up it is sometimes beneficial to enhance natural processesto enhance natural processes

C-FLO – living organisms increase rate of C-FLO – living organisms increase rate of consumption of organic sedimentsconsumption of organic sediments

C-FLO-4, C-FLO-5, C-FLO-6 – cultures C-FLO-4, C-FLO-5, C-FLO-6 – cultures developed for specific problemsdeveloped for specific problems

Clean & Clear – natural enzyme productClean & Clear – natural enzyme product

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Systems Engineered to Your Systems Engineered to Your NeedsNeeds

►The Design Process:The Design Process:Evaluate existing water quality dataEvaluate existing water quality data

Collect water samples for current analysisCollect water samples for current analysis

Physical measurements of water body are madePhysical measurements of water body are made

Dissolved Oxygen profile of lake or pond determinedDissolved Oxygen profile of lake or pond determined

Sediment depth and content determinedSediment depth and content determined

Power availability and compressor placement Power availability and compressor placement determineddetermined

System design and quotation preparedSystem design and quotation prepared

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Support Insures SuccessSupport Insures Success

► System support is System support is critical for successcritical for success

Start-up biological Start-up biological progression progression

closely closely watchedwatched

Water quality Water quality monitoredmonitored

Sediment levels Sediment levels and and composition composition monitoredmonitored

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Natural Swimming PondsNatural Swimming Ponds Inspiration For Harmony With Inspiration For Harmony With

NatureNature

Why Swim With Chlorine?

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Clean Healthy Water

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Bog And Bio-FiltersBog And Bio-Filters

Centipede module sits at the lowest point in the filter ensuring maximum water distribution, as well as efficient removal of

sediment during maintenance cleaning

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Floating islandsFloating islandsFor Solutions Above And Below The For Solutions Above And Below The

waterlinewaterline

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- - - -Kids At Play- - - -

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Ready To Launch

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Growing !

Growing !

Grown !

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Mist Systems

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Benefits Of The Mist SystemBenefits Of The Mist System

►CoolingCooling►Reduction of green house gasesReduction of green house gases►Possible disruption of Possible disruption of ► localized insect population localized insect population ►(I.E. patios, pool areas and (I.E. patios, pool areas and

entertainment areas)entertainment areas)►Discouraging/DisruptingDiscouraging/Disrupting

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Cool And Peaceful

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AAHH!!!! Refreshing

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What A Wonderful World