Triangle Pond Management

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.

Join us at the NC Outdoor Living Show (formerly known as the Man Exp0) on Saturday June 3rd and Sunday June 4th! Our booth will have experts on standby to answer all your questions. We will once again be hosting the kids’ fishing tank, which is loaded with catfish ready to catch! This year’s show features a Man Cave, backyard dream spaces, boats, RVs and automobiles and tons of fun for the whole family! Click here to purchase tickets in advance.

Soil piping is a condition where the inflow or outflow of water from a stormwater control measure does not take the intended path through the installed inlets, outlets, or drainage system. Typically, we will see water flowing around a pipe or through a compromise somewhere along the run of the pipe. This situation almost always results in erosion of the surrounding area. As the water flows out and around the pipe, it takes sediment with it and creates a void in the area.

This client had a major case of erosion behind their home often caused by stormwater runoff. Any significant storm event would continue washing away the area just behind their patio. In situations like this, if you can’t redirect the flow of water away from the affected area, you can armor the area. For this client, it made more sense to re-establish the grade of the area and armor with riprap stone.

Forestry Mulching is a fast and efficient method of clearing land or other areas to make them usable again. The machines we use can be used to reclaim overgrown areas such as lots, trails, pond dams, and more. Having access to these areas on your property increases the value of the property and makes maintaining the areas easier in the future. The machinery shreds and chips the overgrowth as it works so there is no need for expensive hauling to remove the material. The remaining mulch stabilizes the areas that are worked in and over time the material breaks down and adds to the soil quality.

Our team recently repaired a pipe separation at the inlet pipe to a community stormwater pond. Repairs like these are common when the ground around an inlet pipe settles. Over time the flared end section (FES) of the pipe pulls away or separates from the other pieces of pipe. When this happens stormwater no longer discharges properly across the FES and into the inlet dissipater.