Envirotech Environmental Consulting, Inc. (EECI) began service on Walkers Pond in the Montego Bay Community in late March of 2008. EECI entered into a two (2) year agreement with the Montego Bay Civic Association at that time to collaboratively implement a Comprehensive Pond Management Plan (CPMP) for Walkers Pond. The CPMP, management techniques, and products are all permitted and approved. The generalized goals of the CPMP are:
- Maintain a successional state where the pond has open water
- Support human recreation on the pond
- Maintain viable fish and wildlife populations
- Maintain water quality
- Promote embankment and shoreline stabilization
- Eradicate/control exotic and invasive species
The pond is serviced on a bi-weekly basis March through November and monthly December through February. Large amounts of trash and debris are removed from the pond every service visit. EECI has also made several unscheduled visits to react to algae blooms, aeration issues, and help speed the implementation of the CPMP.
Walkers Pond is a complicated system influence by the stormwater run-off from the community and the nearby inland bay ecosystem. The pond is extremely shallow with very little flow. These factors make Walkers Pond at risk to large algal blooms. EECI began treating algae in March and has continued to do treatments throughout the growing season. The goal of these treatments is not only to treat the algae, but to bring the system back into balance by reducing organic matter and nutrients that the algae need to grow. Large amounts of algae and organic matter have been raked and netted from the pond. Also, nutrient flocculants that make nitrogen and phosphorus unavailable for algae to use have been applied to the system. The process of returning the pond to balance takes time. The water quality of the system had been degraded for several years, but progress has been made. EECI plans to continue to use physical removal and treatment, as necessary, to improve the water quality in Walkers Pond. From project conception, EECI stated it would take at least one full growing season (March through November) to begin to restore pond balance.
The buffer area around the pond was dominated by the exotic invasive species Phragmites australis. Phragmites is an extremely invasive plant that creates a mono-culture and prevents the growth of native beneficial species. The phragmites has been treated and is being removed. By selectively treating for phragmites and other invasive plants, EECI will allow for the colonization of beneficial herbaceous, grass, and shrub species. These practices will also promote the growth of the installed Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens. The water level in the pond has been maintained so these spartina grasses have the wet roots they need to grow. The buffer around the pond helps to stabilize the embankment, create habitat, reduce nutrient pollution, and stop trash/debris from entering the pond.
There is currently one aerator operating in the pond. The other aerators are malfunctioning, and due to their type and manufacture, they cannot be repaired. Aeration is a component of the CPMP, because it increases the dissolved oxygen available for decomposition of algae, nutrients, and other organic materials. The aerators also provide dissolved oxygen for the fish and other organisms that live in the pond. The algae blooms have made unclogging the aerators necessary on every visit. EECI will continue to work with the Montego Bay Civic Association to resolve the aeration issues.
EECI remains dedicated to implementing the CPMP. Throughout the process, all management techniques were applied with extreme care to not adversely affect the beneficial native flora and fauna that call Walkers Pond home. EECI records and logs all activities done in the pond. Quarterly reports will be provided to the Montego Bay Civic Association. With the progress made and continued commitment to a comprehensive approach, Walkers Pond can be an environmental and aesthetic amenity for the community.
