The importance of Oxygen

THE IMPORTANCE OF OXYGEN

Oxygen is the most important constituent of lakes. Oxygen is an essential element for all aquatic organisms that breathe. Therefore, there is a direct relationship between the oxygen concentrations and exchanges occurring in a lake, and the physiological status of aquatic organisms.

The concentration of dissolved oxygen found in a lake and available to the organisms, insects, fish, etc. is the result of many dynamic processes. The primary sources of dissolved oxygen in a lake are the atmosphere and photosynthesis of aquatic plants. Oxygen using processes, both biological and chemical, counterbalance these sources of oxygen. Any oxygen concentrations found in a lake at any specific time are the result of numerous dynamic changes.

Lakes, ponds and reservoirs around the world are "dying" due to ever increasing inflows of nutrients and sediment build up from a multitude of sources. This natural process of dying lakes, or eutrophication, accelerates with man's activities, but occurs in even the most pristine environments. Eutrophication, by definition, is the increase in mineral and organic nutrients that result from a deficiency in dissolved oxygen, producing an environment that favors plant life over animal life.

Eutrophication can be reversed by increasing the dissolved oxygen, not just at the surface, but also throughout the water column to reduce nutrients, and to produce an environment that again favors animal life over plant life. Oxygenation, nutrient reduction and the "web of life" are the essence of the Clean Flo process.

Nuisance weeds and algal scum, "muck", fish kills, pathogenic bacteria, low transparency, foul odors, stunted game fish and the occurrence of rough fish are characteristic of eutrophication. Most all lakes and ponds demonstrate several of these problems.

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