Anthony Dulio at American Underwater Services is an expert in pond dredging, so he has assembled this great article explaining everything about pond dredging and has titled it Pond Dredging 101. If you have any questions about pond dredging contact Anthony about his Pond Dredging 101 article.
What is Pond Dredging?
Have you ever wondered what a dredge does, and why businesses would hire a company like American Underwater Services to perform dredging on their ponds or waterways?
We’ve come up with this informational post about all things dredging. It will shed some light on why dredging your ponds is so important, along with the various benefits that it conveys.
What is Dredging?
Dredging removes accumulated sediment from the bottom and sides of a pond. You can think of a dredge as a boat with a big vacuum cleaner attached to it.
Once out on the water, the dredge will lower their equipment into the water where it will suck up and pump out unwanted sediment and debris. If this sediment is allowed to accumulate, it will eventually fill in and clog the body of water, turning it into a muddy, mucky, swamp.
How Do Ponds Fill up with Sediment?
Man-made bodies of water such as golf courses and HOA ponds are continually trying to reclaim the land that is now underwater. Various biological processes can contribute and even speed up the land reclamation.
The wind blows leaves, grass, and other organic debris onto the water surface where they sink to the deepest part of the pond. This area is known as a dead-zone. Beneficial bacteria which would normally break down the organic debris cannot live in this low-oxygen part of the water.
As such, sediment starts to accumulate over time. This, in turn, releases enormous quantities of nutrients which feed nuisance algae or weed growth. As time goes by, the sediment starts to accumulate until the entire pond has been turned into a smelly swamp.
Dredging avoids this by removing the nutrient-rich sediment that can lead to algae outbreaks and decreased water depths. The natural balance of the ecosystem is soon restored after a pond has been dredged.
How Does Dredging Keep a Pond Healthy?
If your pond resides in an area that is prone to flooding, dredging can help prevent this by removing excess sediment. This can help protect against a catastrophic loss of plant and aquatic life in the event of a flood or heavy rain event.
Dredging can also help increase the size of the pond. As the mud, weeds, and trash are removed, the pond can now support more aquatic wildlife. This holds true for ponds that double as a fishing hole (such as an HOA pond). Removal of sediment will allow for a healthier ecosystem which in turn will support the well-being of the fish and aquatic life.
Property values will also be increased. Nobody likes a smelly, algae-ridden pond. The curb appeal of a house that has an ugly pond in the backyard isn’t very good. By dredging your HOA pond, you’ll find that local wildlife such as birds and fauna will return to the area and make it more beautiful.
What Are Some Other Dredging Benefits?
The muck, mud, and sediment that are removed by a dredge contain vast amounts of nutrients. Instead of taking it to the local landfill, many people (and HOA communities) use it as an organic fertilizer. The material can be added to flower beds, or in areas where the grass is having a hard time growing.
Dredging can also remove various trash from the waterways. This trash is usually in the form of non-biodegradable plastics which are unsightly and bad for the environment. As time goes by, the plastics will break down into microbeads, which can be ingested by fish and birds.
If your pond suffers from foul odors, dredging can also help mitigate the offensive smells. This will also help get rid of nuisance algae and weed outbreaks that can clog a waterway and make it look unsightly.
Nationwide Pond Dredging Services
At American Underwater Services, we’re the foremost experts on dredging HOA and golf course ponds. If you’re tired of adding gallons of harmful chemicals to your ponds in an attempt to fight algae or nuisance weed outbreaks, give us a call at (817)377-8512.
Our expert dredgers will work with you to come up with a comprehensive game plan that will not only clean up your ponds but restore the natural ecosystem balance.
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