From the Ground Up: Building and managing aquatic ecosystems

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - For more than 20 years, Bryan-based Lochow Ranch has been a trusted partner for lake and pond management services across the south, taking pride in doing their part for the aquaculture industry. The contractor builds and manages private ponds and lakes in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

“Aquaculture is very dear to me,” said Lochow Ranch Owner and President John Jones. “It’s how i got into this business, being able to touch the land and more importantly touch the water. I love watching animals and aquatic organisms grow and you know, that is aquaculture.”

Of course, not every landowner wants a lake or pond for the same reason. Lochow Ranch Pond & Lake Management says they aim to take care of aquatic assets by matching the goals of the landowner with the property’s ability to meet those goals. When those goals don’t coincide, Lochow Ranch works to build the best possible option.

“A lot of times that’s going to vary by the productivity of your water which varies all over the state,” said Jones. “Clear water is generally less productive. Nice green water grows a lot of fish, but may or may not be desirable.”

Lochow Ranch has worked on thousands of private ponds and lakes, and says maintaining a healthy aquatic ecosystem starts with the basics. Among the most important is a well-established food chain. Jones says that all starts with the base of the chain, phytoplankton.

“A super, super clear lake say, in the Hill Country, same thing, may be beautiful, grows a lot of weeds, but doesn’t grow much fish, because at the end of the day what grows baby fish is phytoplankton,” Jones explained. “Phytoplankton is a green animal, basically, that lives in your water and that’s what you need to support a healthy fishery”

While green water may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, it is the most productive in terms of yielding fish. Still, pond managers often work to go the extra mile.

“Your basics to increase productivity is going to be fertilizer,” he explained. You’re going to get your fertilizer by putting in a bunch of high-quality fish food, and high quality fish food is going to both grow more fish and fertilize the water as a byproduct.”

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