Fish Pond Management
Pond & Lake Stewards: Grow Fish Instead of Algae
Harvesting Fish to Restore the Food Web
|
With thoughtful fish pond management, you can build wild fish habitat and enjoy natural fish propagation, while, at the same time, you can eliminate harmful algae blooms in the lake or pond in your care.
With BioHaven Floating Islands you can restore lakes and ponds to a healthy, thriving state, increasing biodiversity and bringing back the value of lakeshore living. Want to grow fish instead of algae in your pond? Read on. . . Make your pond water healthy for human enjoyment — be a water stewardWith BioHaven Floating Islands as your natural water stewardship ally, you can:
Increase fish population with biomimicry. Mimicking nature’s own solution, BioHavens are beautiful and functional wetlands that cycle valuable but misplaced nutrients into beneficial plants and fish instead of algae. BioHaven floating island products facilitate oxygenation and homogenization of water and boost the growth of periphyton to provide natural food for small fish. Our floating man-made islands provide safe havens for all manner of fish. So you can grow fish instead of algae. In every application, BioHaven floating islands function to mitigate harmful algae blooms (HABs), and to manage green and smelly waterways without chemicals. Originally, Fish Fry Lake was a nutrient-rich, pea-soup green mosquito factory. You would not let your dog drink from the edge. The place stank. Today Fish Fry Lake (FFL) is the most productive wild fishery per acre foot of water in Montana. There’s no waterway in the state over 50 acre feet that even produces half the fish volume Fish Fry does. And water quality in FFL is far better today then when we started, even though the inflow water is just as nutrient polluted as when we started. BioHaven Floating Islands are Versatile
Fix Your Pond. Fish Your Pond.
Wondering how to make your pond into a good place to fish? How to clean your pond? How to fish in your lake? We hope that this section of the Floating Island International site will answer all of your questions about how adding a floating island naturally improves your experience with wild pond management, building a place to fish, growing fish in a wild pond, increasing fish populations in your pond or lake, managing pond fertility, and managing a pond for high fish production.
Fishing is good for the Earth, and making water fishable, designing a wild fishery, building the best fishing hole, attracting fish to your pond, and implementing a fish management program is an amazing way to contribute to the sustainability of the planet. Sure, we may like to go fishing and catch some bass, bluegill, sunfish and perch in a wild pond. And we all hate when fish survival in the lake is poor, when we wake up to a fishkill or a harmful algae bloom. So wild fish pond management to turn algae into fish, grow largemouth bass in our lakes, is not just fun and games — fishing helps waterbodies, fishing reduces greenhouse gas emissions, fishing transitions out nutrients. Improving fishing in your pond is Earth Stewardship! |
Water quality improvement with a smile - harvest fish to prevent algae
Healthy water, healthy perch. Faster growth rates measured in Fish Fry Lake
BioHavens and Bass - a perfect combination
Grow fish instead of algae. Harvest the fish and remove phosphorus
Family outing on Fish Fry Lake
Bass action among the BioHavens
Minnows thriving in a StreamBed channel - note the periphyton
Minnow harvest enhances the fishery at Fish Fry Lake and represents a form of Water Resource Recovery (WRR)
BioHavens grow periphyton, a natural food source for grazing fish.
|
Float BioHaven Fish-Aggregator Islands. Feed Fish for Free. Grow Big Fish. Fish and Keep. Enjoy Clean Water and Healthy Fish!
For a waterway to be in ideal condition, nutrients coming in must match nutrients going out. In fact, lakes and ponds really never achieve this perfect balance, but as pondmeisters know, if your pond gets too unbalanced in favor of nutrients coming in, then disaster looms! This is especially true if the nutrients enter in the form of mineral-based fertilizer.
Pondmeisters love fish. We want clean, healthy water, but fish are a main target—particularly big, sporty fish and all the fun that comes with them. But, here’s a “what if…” What if we could have crystal clear water you could drink out of hand, and nice fish with nearly every cast? What if we could have both? Wouldn’t that be just AWESOME?!
How do you make sure the food web is functioning well? There are hundreds of internet pages dealing with pond management and stewardship. But for now, let’s look at this idea: we must harvest in order to have more harvest. It’s really that simple. We humans are a vital part of the food web, and if we don’t accept responsibility that comes with our place near the top of the food web—in other words, if we don’t steward and also harvest—the whole thing can come crashing down! This is absolutely what happens today, with fertilizer in such abundance. For right now, let’s look at the HARVEST side of this conundrum.
Pondmeisters love fish. We want clean, healthy water, but fish are a main target—particularly big, sporty fish and all the fun that comes with them. But, here’s a “what if…” What if we could have crystal clear water you could drink out of hand, and nice fish with nearly every cast? What if we could have both? Wouldn’t that be just AWESOME?!
How do you make sure the food web is functioning well? There are hundreds of internet pages dealing with pond management and stewardship. But for now, let’s look at this idea: we must harvest in order to have more harvest. It’s really that simple. We humans are a vital part of the food web, and if we don’t accept responsibility that comes with our place near the top of the food web—in other words, if we don’t steward and also harvest—the whole thing can come crashing down! This is absolutely what happens today, with fertilizer in such abundance. For right now, let’s look at the HARVEST side of this conundrum.
Here at Shepherd, Montana, we measure a lot of stuff, including our harvest. Our water is heavily influenced by phosphorus due to nearby corn farming practices and irrigation. Water migrates through our property from nearby agricultural interests. Floating islands launched on Fish Fry Lake filter the water, improving clarity. We bump up aeration/circulation in the lake with two floating streambed embodiments of floating islands. We are also recently incorporating nanobubbler technology. This allows for optimal cycling of nutrients through the islands, and it also allows for sufficient dissolved oxygen to keep warm water fish, like yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish alive. In 2016, we had an average harvest of 1,400 pounds of fish a year. We initially focused on yellow perch, which translates to one pound of phosphorus per 105 pounds of perch. This translates to fish being our best means by which to harvest phosphorus—In 2016, this was about 12 pounds per year.
While we know of no other waterway in Montana that approaches our harvest per acre- foot of water, we’d like to keep pushing the envelope. Northern yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish dominate today, and largemouth bass are coming on strong. They are helping us put size on the prolific bluegill too. On the opposite side of the size spectrum, we have a 5,000 square foot pond above Fish Fry (aptly named MINNOW POND) that generates between seventy and ninety thousand minnows per year. This translates to nearly three additional pounds of phosphorus prevented from entering Fish Fry. These guys make life bearable here in mosquito season, as they are terrific mosquito and midge larvae predators.
While we know of no other waterway in Montana that approaches our harvest per acre- foot of water, we’d like to keep pushing the envelope. Northern yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish dominate today, and largemouth bass are coming on strong. They are helping us put size on the prolific bluegill too. On the opposite side of the size spectrum, we have a 5,000 square foot pond above Fish Fry (aptly named MINNOW POND) that generates between seventy and ninety thousand minnows per year. This translates to nearly three additional pounds of phosphorus prevented from entering Fish Fry. These guys make life bearable here in mosquito season, as they are terrific mosquito and midge larvae predators.
Grow Fish Instead of Algae
Growing Fish Instead of Algae
BioHaven Floating Islands are artificial floating islands that mimic natural floating wetlands to provide “real estate” for the microscopic life forms that clean up water and resurrect the food web. As soon as a planted island is placed in a waterbody, biofilm starts to grow around and through it, reaching every fiber and crevice within the island. As the plants and roots grow, they are also covered with biofilm, turning into a natural cleaning system. Water clarity improves. Nutrients are recycled into periphyton, which turns into food for fish that is constantly being harvested and renewed. The net result is less algae, a natural wild fish habitat, and more fish.
Perhaps you’ve dreamed of turning your algae-ridden water into a prolific fishing pond? Our very own Fish Fry Lake was full of algae, smelly, and in terrible shape before being planted with BioHaven Floating Islands. Now, it is home to world-class fishing in Montana! Floating Islands can do the same for your lake.
BioHaven Floating Islands are artificial floating islands that mimic natural floating wetlands to provide “real estate” for the microscopic life forms that clean up water and resurrect the food web. As soon as a planted island is placed in a waterbody, biofilm starts to grow around and through it, reaching every fiber and crevice within the island. As the plants and roots grow, they are also covered with biofilm, turning into a natural cleaning system. Water clarity improves. Nutrients are recycled into periphyton, which turns into food for fish that is constantly being harvested and renewed. The net result is less algae, a natural wild fish habitat, and more fish.
Perhaps you’ve dreamed of turning your algae-ridden water into a prolific fishing pond? Our very own Fish Fry Lake was full of algae, smelly, and in terrible shape before being planted with BioHaven Floating Islands. Now, it is home to world-class fishing in Montana! Floating Islands can do the same for your lake.
- BioHaven Floating Islands add riparian edge to ponds and lakes, providing secure habitats for birds, insects, frogs and other species under threat from human activities around water
- BioHavens provide water quality benefits by harnessing natural processes, not chemicals, to re-cycle excess nutrients into more beneficial and productive life forms
- BioHavens dampen the effects of damaging wave action, protecting shorelines from erosion and loss of sensitive lifeforms
- They enhance fish productivity and provide a platform to catch them from
- They improve water clarity and bring back the pleasure of lakeside living
BioHavens in Municipal Pond Applications
- BioHaven Floating Islands are a natural, research-backed solution for HAB Management & Mitigation
- Adding BioHaven Floating Islands adds beauty and a eye-catching feature to any body of water
- BioHaven Floating Islands are completely customizable to your size, shape, and buoyancy requirements
- Can be designed to create habitat for fish, amphibians, ducks and other waterfowl
- Islands can serve as a swimming platform, kayak dock, fish aggregator and fishing platform for parks and recreation
- Added to an urban pond, a floating island can bring many community benefits, including a central location for family outings
- A BioHaven can be solar powered to generate local energy or power water circulation
BioHavens in Private Pond Applications
BioHaven Floating Islands provide “real estate” for the microscopic life forms that clean up water and resurrect the food web. As soon as a planted island is placed in a waterbody, biofilm starts to grow around and through it, reaching every fiber and crevice within the island. As the plants and roots grow, they are also covered with biofilm, turning into a natural cleaning system. Water clarity improves. Nutrients are recycled into biofilm, which turns into food for fish that is constantly being harvested and renewed. The net result is less algae and more fish. Fish Fry Lake was algae ridden and in terrible shape before being planted with BioHaven Floating Islands. Now, it is home to world-class fishing in Montana! Floating Islands can do the same for your lake.
BioHavens are ideal for recreational ponds, where they can be placed with or without anchors.
Here are the Dos and Dont’s of Waterway Stewardship.
- Private pond and lake owners can enjoy their property’s water again by naturally eliminating odor and dangerous toxicity
- BioHaven Floating Islands are a natural, research-backed solution for HAB Management & Mitigation
- Adding BioHaven Floating Islands adds beauty and a eye-catching feature to a private property body of water
- BioHaven Floating Islands are completely customizable to your size, shape, and buoyancy requirements
- Can be designed to create habitat for fish, amphibians, ducks and other waterfowl and as a pollinator island for your garden and organic agriculture
- Islands can serve as a swimming platform, kayak dock, fish aggregator and fishing platform
- A BioHaven can be solar powered to generate localized energy source
- Private pond and lake owners can generate revenue from building a destination fishery
- Revenue can also be generated from minnow production.
BioHavens are ideal for recreational ponds, where they can be placed with or without anchors.
Here are the Dos and Dont’s of Waterway Stewardship.
Additional Benefits of BioHaven Floating Islands
- Floating pond islands attract beneficial insects, frogs, fish, and other species that eat mosquitoes and larvae and are useful in vector control.
- BioHavens harness natural processes, not chemicals, to re-cycle excess nutrients, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
- BioHavens are a clean way to recycle and reuse PET plastics and may even help with the uptake of microplastics from waterways.
- BioHaven Floating Islands remove at least one deleterious plastic by-product (bisphenol A) from water.
- BioHaven Floating Islands provide safe habitat for nuisance birds away from the greens.
- BioHaven Floating Islands biomass sequesters carbon that may otherwise contribute to climate change.
Testimonials
“I could have taken all that money I spent over the years on chemicals, and simply invested in a BioHaven solution which is a much more natural way to transition water. Water stewardship is an important role and I’m proud that I have been able to make a positive difference.”
Chuck Gainan
Land Owner
Boyd, MT
“Bruce and the team at Floating Island International are demonstrating resource recovery in a remarkable way at Fish Fry Lake, where what used to be dead water flowing into the Yellowstone River is now an incredible and productive fishery. Now the lake produces healthy fish that my grandchildren can catch instead of carpets of algae. This could be the model for urban lakes across the country and help sustain the health of our critically important streams and rivers.”
Mike Penfold
State of Montana
N Dakota, S Dakota and Alaska BLM Director
Retired
Chuck Gainan
Land Owner
Boyd, MT
“Bruce and the team at Floating Island International are demonstrating resource recovery in a remarkable way at Fish Fry Lake, where what used to be dead water flowing into the Yellowstone River is now an incredible and productive fishery. Now the lake produces healthy fish that my grandchildren can catch instead of carpets of algae. This could be the model for urban lakes across the country and help sustain the health of our critically important streams and rivers.”
Mike Penfold
State of Montana
N Dakota, S Dakota and Alaska BLM Director
Retired
View BioHaven Products
Installing a BioHaven Floating Island
Case Studies and Research
Nutrient removal and algae control project in an urban lake in China
|
Yingri Lake, Jinan, China
The purpose of this island was to eliminate summer algae blooms by reducing the nutrient loading in this urban lake. The results were an impressive reduction in carbon, Nitrate and Phosphorus which successfully stopped the algal bloom from happening. |
From Phosphorus to Fish – stewarding Fish Fry Lake for optimum water quality enhancement
|
Shepherd, Montana
This is a report covering the first year where fish harvest was intentionally used as a means to remove phosphorus from the nutrient-rich water of Fish Fry Lake, in the agricultural area of Eastern Montana. Fish growth rates, as a result of the BioHaven substrate, were found to be well above average, and the pounds of phosphorus removed were carefully documented. The stewardship and measurement program described here is ongoing. |
|
Billings, Montana
Chuck’s pond wasn’t always the beautiful water feature it is today…. Read the story of successful garden center owner, Chuck Gainan, and how he went the long way round to achieving his goal… |
|
|