Your neighborhood’s pond can be so much more than a stormwater runoff reservoir. But before it can reach its full potential as a dazzling water feature with aesthetic and recreational value, it needs to be treated as an asset that’s worth time and effort. In other words, your community needs a pond management company who will keep your pond healthy, not just treat symptoms of poor health.

But as a member of an HOA committee in charge of finding the right management professional, you may be wondering just how to tell if you’re talking to the right contractor or not.

Here are five questions you can ask your potential pond and lake management contractor to discover whether or not they’re the missing puzzle piece your community needs.

1. Are you licensed to apply aquatic herbicides (and do you have any other relevant certifications)?

Starting out by checking a companies’ credentials is the safe way to go. A license for aquatic herbicides is one of the most critical qualifications, especially if your pond has been invaded by nuisance plants or has an algae problem. You should also ask for info about any other certifications your contractor may have, such as Stormwater BMP Inspection and Maintenance Certification.

2. Who can I call for recommendations?

Try to get references from long-term customers. It’s especially useful if any of these references have ponds with similar situations to yours (or ponds that used to have similar problems, which this contractor managed to resolve).

3. What will the timeline look like?

It’s impossible to generate a complete management plan until a thorough report has been drawn up. However, the company should be able to tell you how long it’ll take to get this detailed report and what it will include. You’ll also want to ask how the contractor plans to monitor the pond and how frequently they plan to update you on its status and progress.

4. Will you inform me (and the community) about developments in the industry?

A top-quality pond management companies works hard to keep you, the client, informed of any relevant happenings in the industry. Technological breakthroughs, new stormwater management laws, and other pertinent news items and resources can be conveyed through outlets such as these:

• A website with a blog and resource list
• Regular newsletters
• Social media pages that list educational materials

5. What techniques do you use to keep ponds healthy?

Any company can say they value the health of your pond’s ecosystem. Asking about specific sustainable techniques will allow you to gauge the contractor’s commitment to and experience with sustainable methods. A few commonly used methods and techniques for sustainability include:

• Growing native plant species as a buffer around the edge of the pond to reduce erosion and filter out chemicals
• Using a water feature such as a fountain to reduce stagnation and help aerate the water
• Eradicating invasive plants so they won’t crowd out beneficial varieties

It may seem overwhelming at first to be expected to choose a pond management company, especially if you don’t have experience with pond management yourself. These questions will help you match your community with a company who will deliver the best management for your pond’s health and consequently for your community as a whole.

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