Research Papers & Case Studies Abstracts

---

Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc. (AVC) provided an operational evaluation reducing muck in 15 acres in a 25 acre Stormwater treatment marsh for Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The purpose of this project was to reduce the muck bottom and phosphorous level thereby improving the physical characteristics of the cell holding capacity, flow and aesthetics and reducing trophic state index.

The Results:

The treatment prescription was to apply 200 gallons of incubated Bio‑Zyme per week to the 15 acre trial area. This continued through September of 2016. The Bio‑Zyme works well in conjunction with plants. The native plants also tie up nutrients and are a substrate for bacteria to thrive. The bottom organic sediments were reduced from 45cm to less than 11cm in a period of 18 months. The water clarity was greatly improved. The Bio-Incubator is still used when the water level is adequate. This improves the water from the adjacent neighborhoods and golf course. The soft bottom sediments initially made traversing through the marsh difficult, almost impossible but now the bottom is sand in most areas and walking through the area is much easier.

Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc. (AVC) provided an operational evaluation reducing muck in a 15 acre lake for Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District (NPBCID) Palm Beach Gardens, FL The purpose of this project was to reduce the muck bottom, increase the lake’s holding capacity, improve aesthetics and lower the trophic state index.

Results:

The treatment prescription was to apply 200 gallons of incubated Bio-Zyme per week to the 15 acre trial area. The bottom organic sediments were reduced from 30 cm to 0 cm in 40 months. This muck took longer to disintegrate than in most lakes. We believe that was due to the large amount of copper that had been used in that lake. Copper inhibits bacteria from reproducing.

Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc. (AVC) provided an operational evaluation reducing muck in a 15 acre lake for Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District (NPBCID) Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The purpose of this project was to Reduce the muck bottom, increase the lake’s holding capacity, improve aesthetics and lower the trophic state index.

Results:

The treatment prescription was to apply 200 gallons of incubated Bio-Zyme per week to the 15 acre trial area. This continues today. The bottom organic sediments were reduced from 14 cm to 0 cm in a period of forty months. On 12/14/2019 the total phosphorous was 0.010. The initial phosphorous was 0.13. This is an excellent improvement for a lake that borders a golf course. This muck took longer to disintegrate than in most lakes. We believe that was due to the large amount of copper that had been used in that lake. Copper inhibits bacteria from reproducing.

The STA retention area was 10 acres and the treatment area was 10 acres. STAs are designed to store water and remove nutrients (mainly phosphorus) before it is moved into St Lucie River’s natural ecosystems. The E8 waterbody was filling in with organic detritus The purpose of this project was to reduce the muck bottom to improve the physical characteristics of the cell including capacity, flow and aesthetics. The ultimate objective is to provide a solution to address runoff and resuspension of organics and reduce the trophic state index.

Results:

The treatment prescription was to apply 250 gallons of incubated Bio‑Zyme per week to the 10 acre trial area. This continued through January of 2016. The impacts of the Bio‑Zyme Program moved with the flow of the water downstream covering over 3 times the acreage treated. The bottom organic sediments were reduced from 19 cm to less than 4 cm in a period of eight months. The sediments on the bottom today are too low to measure. The water clarity is greatly improved. The area is a great for birding in abundance and species of birds. The fishing is also superb, judging by the amount of fish-eating birds present.

Peacock Lake was a 100 acre borrow pit with an average of 18 feet of depth and a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake had less than 40 acres of forested watershed and does not receive any storm water runoff. Most of the lake had emergent plants growing along the shoreline. In December 2017 we observed a bloom of Microcystis in the lake. The park was closed due to the Microcystis levels in the lake and the potential for toxicity to residents. The purpose of the project was to reduce the nutrients to a level that will that will encourage a healthy ecosystem and lower the trophic state index of the lake. The objective is to provide a solution to remove phosphorus.

Results:

The treatment prescription was to apply 250 gallons of incubated Bio‑Zyme per week directly into the lake on the north shore adjacent the Bio-incubator. Within 6 months, the TP levels were reduced from 0.05 mg/l (Jan. 18, 2017) to 0.015 mg/l (July 3, 2017). Eighteen months after the program started the TP levels were below minimum detection level and reported at <0.005 mg/l (July 11, 2018). The park was re-opened on April 15, 2017. Today the TP is monitored every four months. We take the incubator offline as needed because the TP results are too low, often below detection level. We have set a goal of 0.03 TP which we feel is good for lake management and the environment. Bio‑Zyme did not injure plants.

Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc. (AVC) provided an operational evaluation reducing muck and tussocks in a 900 acre Storm Water Treatment Area (STA) for the South Florida Water Management District. STAs are designed to remove nutrients (mainly phosphorus) from water before it is moved into natural ecosystems. The northern portion of project cell in STA 1 West is sawgrass and willow with less water. Midway to the south is more open due to herbicide application. Large areas of floating tussocks, with knee to waist deep muddy water exist near the project area. The tussocks and muck reduce the flow and inhibit the STA’s effectiveness.

Results:

The treatments continued through March of 2017. At the end of March the total area impacted by the trial appeared to encompass over 350 acres. At the end of the year after the treatment was finished, the entire 900 acre STA was affected with all the tussocks controlled and the muck about 12 inches under the water surface. The water level in the site had not increased at the years end. Fire flag was planted to complete the emergent plant objective. The impacts of the Bio-Zyme Program moved with the flow of the water to the south covering over 18 times the trial area and over 36 times the acreage treated. Most of the treatment benefits are still visible today almost 2 years post treatment. The bottom sediment became consolidated and firm compared to mush and soup. The water clarity was greatly improved.

Explores the role of using the Bio-Zyme product to augment existing bacteria to reduce nutrients and organic matter in lakes. Discussed are: 1. The role of bacteria, 2. Bacterial growth and reproduction rates, (3) exoenzyme producing bacteria, 4. Methods for enhancing exoenzyme production, 5. What happens to solubilized sludge, 6. role of nitrifying bacteria, 7. nitrification and denitrification, and 8. why the continuation to dose lakes after initial application to augment existing bacteria Bio-Zyme is essential. 

Presents data on: 1. Reclaimed water flows received by Boca West, 2. Boca West Nutrient analysis, 

3. Georgetown HOA Lakes #1 and 2 visual quality report, 4. Georgetown HOA Lakes #1, 2, 3 and 4 cost of typical lake management, 5. Pine Island water quality report

PowerPoint presentation discuses: 1. Bacteria, 2. Bacteria in the aquatic environment, 3. Microbes, 4. Nitrogen assimilation with Bio-Zyme, 4. Carbon utilization, 5. Phosphorus and sediment accumulation, 6. Bacterial aquatic management systems and use, 6. Bio-Incubator use and evaluation, 7. Stormwater treatment areas (STAs)

Provides Bio-Zyme data on: 1.  organic sediment removal, 2. Muck analysis report, 3. Phosphorus reduction, 3. Field trail in SFWM STA 1W

PowerPoint presentation showing before and after photographs of the pong at the Daryl Strawberry Recovery Center

PowerPoint presentation covering: 1. The role of bacteria in lakes, 2. Bio-Zyme and nutrient utilization, 5. What happens to sediment after Bio-Zyme treatments, 6. Bio-Zyme use on golf courses, 7. Expectations on lakes managed by Bio-Zyme

PowerPoint presentation on South Florida Water Management District muck reduction trail conducted by Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc senior scientist Elroy Timmer in Storm Water Treatment Area STA 1W in 2016.

Also presented data on muck reduction In PGA Country Club Marsh, City of Pt St Lucie E8, Players Club POA, Ibis Country Club Lake 5 and 10

docxA lake of 20 acres was treated with Bio-Zyme EcoSocks at a rate of six socks per month. Significant reduction in was seen in: Phosphorus, Chlorophyll a, Reactive Phosphorus, and Nitrogen.

Five waterways were treated for 90 days with EcoSocks.  Each lake had 4-6 sites measured.  Organic sediment was reduced in all lakes

Five case studies at different locations document the reduction in organic sediment.

 Anecdotal Case Study: Admirals Cove Golf and Country Club ,Jupiter, Florida

Case study of Bio-Zyme use at the Dye Golf Course in Jupiter, Florida