Overwintering Results of Ten Aerated Lakes in the Northwest Boreal Region 2001-2002
Author(s)
David Jackson
Summary
Lake aeration is a fishery enhancement technique that is used to maintain dissolved oxygen levels in eutrophic lakes prone to winterkill. Stocked lakes susceptible to winterkill were aerated between October 2001 and April 2002 included: Cecil Thompson Park Pond, Moonshine Lake, Cummings Lake, Sulphur Lake, Spring Lake, East Dollar Lake, Figure Eight Lake, Swan Lake, Zama Pond and Cutbank Lake. The lakes ranged from 2 to 172 ha and from 3.0 to 22.0 m in depth. The objective of this project is to sustain dissolved oxygen levels in these lakes at or above 3.0 mg/l to ensure the survival of stocked trout throughout the winter. Mechanical surface aeration was implemented on eight of the ten lakes. At Spring Lake a point release system was operated to destratify the water column in the fall and a 1/3-hp GAST compressor aerated Zama Pond. The 2001 - 2002 aeration program was successful with all ten lakes over wintering as per oxygen concentration collection data.