With so many environmental challenges facing the world today, SOLitude Lake Management has made it a team-wide mission to pave a path towards a better tomorrow through The SOLution, a company-wide program that embraces volunteerism, activism and environmental education in the communities in which we live and serve. John Phelps, an Environmental Scientist and Senior Business Development Consultant at SOLitude, was recently awarded for his service efforts through The SOLution by the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), a national organization focused on the protection of lakes and reservoirs.
Phelps was presented a Community Education & Outreach award in November at the Society’s International Symposium in Denver, CO. The award recognized his leadership on a long-term pond restoration project in Maple Shade Township, NJ. Steinhauer Pond, which suffered from poor water quality, a lack of beneficial plants, foul odors and insufficient water circulation, was the focus of two environmental classes from Maple Shade High School. Phelps was contacted by the school to answer some basic questions about pond management, but went beyond expectations to help students develop a realistic and sustainable long-term restoration plan for the waterbody and provide ongoing educational expertise throughout the entirety of the project. He also helped lead hands-on activities at the project site and provided talking points for students to use when speaking with city leadership about the project.
“This was an awesome experience for all of us involved. John did a wonderful job educating the students,” said Carmen Lynn, Environmental Educator at Maple Shade High School. “I was happy to see my students so actively engaged in a project that benefits them and the community on so many different levels.”
With Phelps’ guidance, the restoration program began with a dedicated trash cleanup in March and a buffer planting of more than 1,000 beneficial plant bulbs in May, which will develop in to a beautiful natural buffer to prevent excessive nutrients from entering the pond and attract predator dragonflies to help limit mosquito populations. In 2018, the project will culminate with the introduction of native fish to the waterbody.
“Throughout the entirety of the project, Phelps contributed many hours of his time and served as a knowledgeable and easily-accessible guide for the high school students and teachers,” said Tracy Fleming, Director of Marketing at SOLitude Lake Management. “By building bridges in this community, Phelps inspired students to become interested and engaged in the protection of the environment and the preservation of our natural aquatic resources.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute my knowledge and time to this project through The SOLution program, and am honored to be recognized by NALMS,” said Phelps. “It’s exciting to see young students showing an interest in the protection and preservation of our precious aquatic resources.”
View other NALMS 2017 Achievement Award Winners at https://www.nalms.org/nalms-2017-achievement-award-winners/
SOLitude Lake Management is committed to providing full-service lake and pond management solutions that improve water quality, preserve natural resources, and reduce our environmental footprint. Our services include lake, pond, wetland and fisheries management programs, algae and aquatic weed control, mechanical harvesting, hydro-raking, installation and maintenance of fountains and aeration systems, water quality testing and restoration, bathymetry, lake vegetation studies, biological assessments, habitat assessments, invasive species management and nuisance wildlife management. Services, consulting and aquatic products are available to clients nationwide, including homeowners associations, multi-family and apartment communities, golf courses, commercial developments, ranches, private landowners, reservoirs, recreational and public lakes, municipalities, parks, and state and federal agencies. Learn more about SOLitude Lake Management and purchase products at
www.solitudelakemanagement.com.
