Lake Nutrient Management Plan Approved; Presentation Scheduled By Special to NWA Media Posted: June 26, 2011 BELLA VISTA - The Bella Vista Property Owners Association's newly approved lake nutrient management plan will be discussed during a presentation at 6 p.m. July 5 at Riordan Hall. Since the creation of Bella Vista Village's lakes through 2002, a lake management tool known as "lake fertilization" was used to maintain robust fish populations to support good fishing. The idea is the same as any other activity aimed at increasing production on land, such as gardening or raising cattle on nutrient-poor soils. In lake fertilization, the idea is to add nutrients to stimulate phytoplankton production. Phytoplankton are microscopic water plants, which support more zooplankton, or microscopic water animals that feed on phytoplankton and in turn support a more robust aquatic food web. The result is more big fish that fishers want, according to a Property Owners Association news release. Problems developed during the late 1990s as the tool was overused and poor water quality and associated aesthetic problems grew. The association stopped the practice of lake fertilization after 2002 because of a great deal of controversy. Lake fertilization was the central topic that led to the creation of the association's lake ecology and fisheries management program, according to the release. Meanwhile, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission began regulating this management tool in this part of the state through its Title 22 regulation. Title 22 regulates land application of nutrients in watersheds of streams that flow from Arkansas to neighboring states. Title 22 requires a nutrient management plan for a body of water to receive nutrient addition. Because of the regulation, as of April, the association has the first approved nutrient management plan for a lake in Arkansas under Title 22, said Lake Ecologist and Fisheries Manager Darrell Bowman in the release. The plan focuses on maintaining good lake productivity while also maintaining good water quality for human contact, good aesthetics and no negative impact to downstream water quality, according to the release. The association will be using several resources, including the public presentation and a page on its website - bellavistapoa.com - to help communicate the topic of lake nutrient management with its members. Using the criteria set forth in this new state-approved plan, the association conducted its first lake nutrient application since 2002 on June 22 at Lake Ann. So far this year, Lake Ann is the only village lake to increase in water clarity beyond the criteria at this point, according to the release. | 
