SOLitude Lake Management, an industry leader in lake and pond management, fisheries management and related environmental services for the Eastern United States, restored the recreational pond at Camp Holiday Trails, a camp in Virginia for children with special health needs, to a healthy waterbody (see photo below) that can be safely used by the campers. Through their outreach and sustainability program, The SOLution, they coordinated the donation of products and services to complete the second and final phase of the pond restoration plan.
After installing an AquaMaster submersed aeration system to improve the water quality in the pond, phase two called for a treatment of the invasive plant, watermeal. This plant had overtaken the pond and camp officials reported 100 percent coverage of this nuisance aquatic vegetation. The infestation deemed the pond unsuitable for recreational use. The treatment recommended to remediate this problem was the use of an aquatic plant management herbicide manufactured by Valent Professional Products. Valent donated the herbicide to Camp Holiday Trails, while SOLitude donated their services to treat and monitor the pond.
After the herbicide treatments during the summer of 2013, the recreational pond is now free of watermeal plants and safe for campers to return to fishing and swimming in the pond.
“[Your] restoration effort will help ensure that hundreds of kids with special needs, and those who have the honor, joy and inspiration of working with them, will benefit from the Camp Holiday Trails experience this year,” said Tina LaRoche, Executive Director of Camp Holiday Trails.
Camp Holiday Trails offers children with special and chronic health needs a fun, safe, and medically-supervised camp experience. Approximately 94 percent of the campers receive financial aid to attend camp. www.campholidaytrails.org.
Since 1998, SOLitude Lake Management has been committed to providing full service lake and pond management services that improve water quality, preserve natural resources, and reduce our environmental footprint. Our services include lake, pond and fisheries management programs, algae and aquatic weed control, installation of fountains and aeration systems, water quality testing and restoration, bathymetry, lake vegetation studies, habitat assessments and nuisance wildlife management. We are the second largest distributor of AquaMaster fountains and aerators internationally and in the U.S. Lake and pond management services are available throughout the Eastern United States. Fisheries management consulting and aquatic products are available nationwide. Learn more about SOLitude Lake Management and purchase products at www.solitudelakemanagement.com.
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