Over the years, however, the community has faced an increasingly expensive array of treatments/solutions for an accumulation of pond weeds and algae blooms.
The Sun Ridge Owners Association in Flemington, share this pond success story. Built in the late 1980s, the residents of Sun Ridge have enjoyed the retention pond for its beauty as a pleasing feature in the landscape of this 212-acre mixed-unit residential community. Over the years, however, the community has faced an increasingly expensive array of treatments/solutions for an accumulation of pond weeds and algae blooms.
The community, by 2011, employed a combination of goose control and pond treatment companies that were still only able to keep it marginally under control. During the summer months, the pond would become covered in green plant material, which remained until the first cold nights of fall. The cold nights would cause the algae to sink and remain dormant until spring's arrival. The Board of Trustees needed to take action on the issue and initially proposed an idea to dredge the pond for an estimated cost of $200,000.
In an attempt to save cost, Trustee Jim Myers, along with the other board members, began to research alternative solutions. That extra mile paid off big. The result, a decision to employ a fully organic/biological method that enzymatically "scrubs" the water clean, as well as, a physical process to remove the established plant material that returns each year. To supplement this process, the community will add landscaping at the head of the inlet to absorb nutrient runoff from lawn applications.
With the steps taken so far, some amazing things have occurred. Firstly, the fish population has thrived. Secondly, there was a wild swan in residence the entire season keeping away any geese that tried to take up residence. But most importantly, the pond ecology is healthy, clear and can be sustained for much less. And best of all, they did not have to spend $200,000.