HAB was represented by John Holz PHD and Ted Barrow MS, the co-founders of the company and accompanying was Brett Quinn LED. HAB Aquatics is based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Website link http://habaquatics.com/
Their bid of a little over $272,000 includes a total lake alum treatment including a mix with another aluminum product to assure no disturbance of the PH balance in the water. The application vessel needs four feet of water to operate so it can treat the fingers as well as the bulk of the lake. Our last treatment was only a deeper water treatment.
Main points.... The treatment will not harm the fish or the eggs if spawning is taking place, the treatment should take five days and needs to be done when the water is over 42 degrees but no algae bloom is taking place, and it would be good if it is done after the spring runoff to bind more of the phosphorus after it has entered. If the lake is not at full pool it is not a serious problem but again, after the spring rain and snow run-off is better.
The thrusters and aerators were discussed and Joe Rush will handle the situation if there is an issue in that area.
The dosage is computed using existing loading factors and the administration of the alum compound is handled using GPS and a computerized system. The alum binds to the phosphorus as it sinks as floc and cleans the water, locking the phosphorus into the bottom inch or so of the lake, where the floc lays and locks in additional phosphorus as it comes into the lake and sinks to the bottom over time. Once locked the nutrient is there forever. After an approximate ten year life the effectiveness of the alum has diminished to the point it no longer absorbs additional phosphorus, which is the nutrient that feeds algae. The effectiveness will diminish as time passes and the life can not be determined due to varying factors of lake loading. We can expect a dramatic initial cleansing of the water. Alum is used in clearing drinking water supplies so it is not a hazard.
It would be good to close the lake to boating during the application so the floc can settle undisturbed but it is not absolutely necessary.
This is an extremely brief and disjointed summary of the meeting but it gives you a feel for the discussion.
Ken Dillenburg