Triangle Pond Management

A common issue that we see in the field is erosion caused by settling flared end sections (FES’s) at the outlets or inlets to stormwater systems. These sections of concrete pipe are very heavy and over time tend to settle or displace as the foundation underneath them fails to support the pipe. In some cases, the settling causes the two sections of pipe to separate, and stormwater flows out and underneath the FES, which causes erosion and dissipator blowouts.

Fish stocking season has officially arrived! Spring and Fall bring some of the best weather conditions for stocking in North Carolina. Cooler temperatures allow for easier transportation and acclimation of new fish from where they are grown to their new pond or lake. It’s not too late to get on our schedule if you would like to stock your pond this fall. We stock a wide variety of fish that can be found in ponds and lakes across NC. You can view these on our website here.

The stormwater control measure (SCM) featured here is called a bioretention pond or bio pond for short. They are used in development to mitigate and control stormwater runoff. Bioretention ponds are also excellent at reducing and removing pollution from stormwater runoff because of the different media filter layers used in construction.

Check out this backyard transformation! This client’s backyard turned into a steep slope towards the end of the yard. This made most of the space in the yard unusable. We met with the client and discussed the water feature design options and expectations for the improvements you can see in the pictures.

Fall is right around the corner here in North Carolina and leaves are already starting to fall in many areas. Now is the the time to install a net over your water garden or koi pond to keep the leaves from clogging your system. There are several options for installing a net. The first is to stretch a flat net over the water. This is relatively easy to install but you will need to remove the leaves that accumulate on the top so it does not droop into the water. This method is less visible as seen in the photo below. The second option is to craft a dome frame structure with PVC to deter the leaves away from the pond.

Many municipalities are becoming increasingly stringent regarding stormwater compliance and the conditions that they will no longer accept at the time of annual inspection. There are many factors that contribute to a SCM/BMP being in a state of compliance. One of the most predominate is the presence of healthy perennial turf coverage, in and around the footprint of the SCM/BMP. Many annual inspections will fall in a window during the year (Winter/Summer) that is not conducive to the establishment of this perennial vegetation.

Check out this great work completed by one of our compliance repair teams. This property has a Stormwater Control Measure at the bottom of the hill where this erosion issue was occurring. The concentrated flow from runoff, whenever a rain event occurred, resulted in major erosion down the slope. All the displaced sediment ended up down in the stormwater device. This issue had to be addressed before it got even worse.

There are several ways to stabilize shorelines when erosion is an issue in a lake or pond. You can use plantings, turfgrass, and even some manufactured geotextiles. Rip-rap, as seen in the photos of a recent project below, is a very effective method and typically will last for years without the need to replant or mow to maintain.

This time of year, vegetation can get out of control in lakes and ponds. Unwanted algae and weeds can quickly grow and overtake an ecosystem in a lake or pond, causing an unsightly mess and also affecting wildlife. Featured below are two kinds of vegetation control options that can be implemented to stay on top of unwanted or nuisance vegetation. The first is using an aquatic approved herbicide. There are several different herbicides that can be applied in different applications.