Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference 2018

AUTHORS. Bob Robinson, Kasco Marine

ABSTRACT. The use of Aeration as well as mixing/circulation as a lake management tool is not a novel approach for fisheries managers. But it is often misunderstood and does not always work as planned or designed.  Historically aeration has been one of the most widely used management tools for both lake and pond management. Results can be negatively impacted by bad data collection as well as minimal consideration given to the influence of water retention time within the lake related to the complete watershed and storm events.This talk will focus on expectations of a properly designed system to include winterkill prevention, prevention or elimination of thermal and chemical stratification, potential control of cyanobacteria, improvement of overall water quality parameters, as well is aeration as an insurance package to protect the fisheries investment.Proper sizing as well as the appropriate techniques are critical to success. Historical review of some successes and failures of aeration choices will be discussed.  Overall lake morphology, cost limitations and exposed liability will lead at times to other management choices.  Aeration is only one of the “Tools in the Toolbox”.