Maintenance has completed installing the three compressor driven aeration systems. The systems require a one week startup cycle to slowly begin the lake turn over. The reason - The last four feet of water at the bottom of the lake is dead and contains a great deal of Hydrogen Sulfide gas solution. This rotten egg smelling gas is unhealthy for the fish. So, the start up cycle will be a run time of 15 minutes daily, leading up to several hours. This will allow a gentle off gassing of the Hydrogen Sulfide without causing too much to be dissolved into the higher water column, which could cause a fish kill. NOTE - EVERY lake has this same situation at varying times of their lives.

The aeration devices, located on the lake bottom in the north, center and lower center of the lake, create a column of small air bubbles approx. 16 square feet. There will be a noticeable ROTTEN EGG smell around the bubble columns, as well as a DIRTY APPEARANCE to the water. The smell will dissipate over the next couple of MONTHS. And the dirty water will settle down in a shorter time frame.

The purpose of these systems - once the lake bottom dead water is turned over and oxygenated, healthy bacteria will begin to live at the bottom of the lake. The bacteria will then begin to breakdown and digest the dead organic matter allowing for plants to return to the lake bottom. Over time, this will improve the health and appearance of the water.

For more detailed information please follow this link:

http://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspx

Jon D. Sabo, AMS, CMCA

General Manager