Waterfowl Pond Damage: Avoiding Damage and Costly Repairs

Waterfowl pond damage advice from Dragonfly Pond Works’ expert.

Jared Beard- Client Service Manager, Wilmington, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

If not managed properly, wildlife can cause significant damage to lakes, ponds, and stormwater systems. As with most potential issues, early detection is key to minimizing damage, costly repairs, compliance violations, and/or fines. One group that may lead to destruction are waterfowl.

Photo Credit: Istock/Marek Stefunko

Waterfowl include birds such as ducks, geese, and swans that can be found in and around water. Most waterfowl migrate and group in flocks. Waterfowl diet can vary by species. Their diet can include fish, invertebrates, and plants. Unless disturbed, waterfowl typically stay in one area for an extended length of time. On average, ducks have 7-12 ducklings at a time and geese have 2-7 goslings.

Waterfowl are often attracted to HOA, commercial, and municipal lakes, ponds, and stormwater control measures due to a lack of predators in these areas. This preference, along with the fact that they travel in flocks, have a relatively high reproductive rate, and prefer to stay in one area can lead to costly waterfowl pond damage, compliance violations, and fines for owners and managers.

Waterfowl Pond Damage Issues

Addressing activity as soon as possible will help minimize waterfowl pond damage and costly repairs. Dragonfly’s specialized lake, pond, and stormwater maintenance technicians look for signs of wildlife activity and damage at every service and note any concerns in our detailed client reports. Issues will only worsen until the waterfowl are deterred and repairs can be made. The following are examples of issues caused by waterfowl, many of which will lead to unsafe conditions and potential compliance violations and/or fines:

-Waterfowl can cause shoreline erosion due to their movements in and out of the water and from eating stabilizing grass and plants along the shoreline.

-Another example of shoreline erosion caused by waterfowl pond damage. Shoreline erosion will continue to worsen until repaired due to the waterfowl and water flow over the eroded areas.

-Waterfowl can cause sediment accumulation along the shoreline as erosion occurs and worsens.

-Waterfowl movement and eating habits can damage aquatic plants along the shoreline. Aquatic plants provide many benefits to lakes, ponds, and stormwater control measures, such as erosion control and improving water quality.

-Movement in and out of the water and sifting through mud for invertebrates to eat can lead to waterfowl pond damage such as turbid or muddy water.

-Waterfowl feces can lead to harmful, foul smelling, and unsightly algae.

Additional issues may include unsightly feces and feathers around the body of water and nearby properties, aggression towards pets and children, and destroying gardens and lawns of nearby properties.

Since these issues will only worsen if not addressed and large populations may make your aquatic space their home, it is important to manage waterfowl as soon as possible. The number one way to deter waterfowl and waterfowl pond damage is to ensure no one is feeding them. Dragonfly’s specialized lake, pond, and stormwater management experts will help provide customized solutions based on the unique needs of each aquatic space. Some potential management practices include appropriate shoreline buffers, goose fencing, stringers across the water, chemicals, decoys, and flashing lights. Some solutions such as decoys and flashing lights have to be periodically moved to remain effective.

Waterfowl Pond Damage: Dragonfly’s experts repaired the shoreline erosion along this pond. Grass seed was spread with the matting and grass will soon be established.

Dragonfly’s specialized experts will repair any waterfowl pond damage. Waterfowl determent will help prevent future damage and protect client’s investment. Routine lake, pond, or stormwater maintenance will help provide continued determent. Our maintenance technicians provide clients with detailed reports following every service to notify of any potential issues before they worsen and become more costly to repair and/or lead to fines and violations. Please contact us to learn more about how we can keep your lake, pond, or stormwater control measure healthy and compliant.

Learn More!

Learn how to spot shoreline erosion to help minimize it from worsening and becoming most costly to repair!

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Dragonfly Pond Works is a lake, pond, and stormwater management company. We provide lake, pond, and stormwater maintenance, shoreline erosion repair, and more throughout North Carolina, in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Cary, and Wilmington. Our pond and lake maintenance services can be found throughout Florida, in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Naples, Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Orlando. We also provide lake and pond maintenance in Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Columbia, South Carolina, Atlanta, Athens, and Savannah Georgia. We strive to develop long-term relationships based on quality work, timely service, cost-efficiency, and of course, trust. Please contact us to learn more.

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