COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: WHY DO I EVEN HAVE MUCK IN THE FIRST PLACE?

A: Organic sediment (muck) builds up when plants do not fully decompose. This happens if there is an overload of dead, decaying plant material, excessive algae blooms, or if the environment is not suitable for healthy bacteria activity. Muck is high in organics (food), nitrogen and phosphorous. These variables are increased by other organisms such as bugs, microbes, dead weeds, dead algae, as well as animal, waterfowl and fish waste.

Muck is also greatly influenced by material that finds its way into the water body in the form of blowing debris, such as grass clippings, twigs, leaves, and runoff from surrounding areas. As this cache of organic waste decays, it breaks down into slime, or as we call it, muck.

Q: HOW DO MUCK PELLETS WORK?

A: The pellets are a combination of natural beneficial bacteria, enzymes, and vitamins that stimulate the biological activity at your lake bottom. When they sink into the muck, this stimulation allows the bacteria to feed on the organic sediment, therefore reducing the muck levels in a localized area.

All of the muck-eating bacteria and enzymes stay right where they sink and chew up the muck around them so nothing is washed away. You will be treating only your beach, shoreline or pond — not your neighbors’ or the entire lake.

The bacteria are good for the microbial environment of your lake and will not harm aquatic plant species, fish, waterfowl or people.

Q: HOW FAST WILL I GET RESULTS AND HOW MUCH WILL THE MUCK GO DOWN?

A: Results depend on the percentage of organics within the area. If you have a lot of organic matter, you will see quicker results than if you have a low percentage of organics. As you continue to apply the product and those organics are reduced, the rate of reduction will slow down and you won't see the results you got with your initial applications.

Some clients see 2-6 inches within a season, others say 2-3 inches a month. It all depends on characteristics of your lakeshore. You must test it. Typically customers will see 40-70% of the muck be consumed over the course of a summer.

If the pellets are applied near a shoreline that gets good wave action, more dissolved oxygen will be forced into the muck and they will work faster.

The pellets work fastest in humus that has started the degradation process. In layman's terms, you want the muck to be gooey when you step in it. The pellets also work on dead leaves, dead weeds, dead grass, fish and waterfowl waste. They do not work on rock, sand, gravel or sticks. They work slowly on oak leaves, pine needles and other organic matter that is high in lignin (woody).

Q: HOW DO I ORDER IT, APPLY IT, OR HAVE WATERFRONT RESTORATION APPLY IT?

A: The order quantity depends on the square footage of the muck you need to cover and the duration/number of months you want to use it. The chart on the first page gives a basic recommendation, but it is best to contact your sales rep for exact application measurements and recommendations. The product is available in 3 sizes: 10 lbs., 25 lbs., or 50 lbs.

The water temperature must be greater than 60 degrees, which means the best time to start application is usually the beginning of June through October. The warmer it is, the faster the pellet bacteria reproduce and digest sludge.

The product is designed to be applied uniformly, either by hand tossing from the dock, or with a spreader mounted on a boat for larger areas. Waterfront Restoration can apply it for you for a per month cost. It is recommended that you allow at least one week between each maintenance application. For best results, apply all product within 12 months.

Results are dependent on dosage amount, meaning that if you use less it can be less effective, and if you use more it can be more effective. If you overdose, you’re not going to hurt anything, except that you might be wasting money.

Effectiveness is judged by results. We recommend that you start by testing an area you can readily see. Apply some pellets within that area and check every few days to monitor the outcome.

If you use chemicals to treat weeds, do not apply the muck pellets until at least three days have passed since using any pesticide. Spot treating in certain areas will be OK, although we still recommend waiting three days.

Q: WHAT OTHER INFORMATION DO I NEED?

A: The pellets have been in use by commercial applicators for 10 years. Within the past few years it has become available to the individual homeowner.

There is no easy way to gauge how much muck will degrade. You can have a lab run a TVSS (total volatile suspended solids test), which will tell you what percent of your much is organic and biodegradable.

The pellets contain a broad spectrum of organisms, not one specific enzyme. The broader the spectrum, the better the results.

Many customers have called them little vacuum cleaners as they see the muck reduce. The product looks like rabbit pellets and the bacteria in the pellets are indigenous to many lakes. They are not just from a test tube.

It will help gradually reduce some aquatic weeds, but not cattails or lilies.
Early in treatment, as bacterial activity increases muck can get fluffier and less dense. This is temporary. To best judge progress, measure your muck depth before you start and again later in the fall when temperature cools off.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OTHER PROACTIVE STEPS I CAN TAKE TO SPEED UP THE MUCK REDUCTION PROCESS ON MY LAKEFRONT?

A: There are 5 steps I would recommend you utilize:

• Pair the use of the muck bacteria pellets with constant aeration
• Complete Spring and Fall underwater cleanups to remove decaying weeds, leaves, grass clippings, twigs and dead algae
• Utilize by-the-root removal of aquatic weeds throughout the summer
• Clean up floating weeds whenever you see them beginning to collect along your lakeshore
• Discontinue the use of pesticides to kill plants, which then sink to the bottom of your lakeshore and decay into muck