Category Archives: Uncategorized
Quieting Underwater Noise to Protect Marine Life
Central Puget Sound is home to several threatened and endangered species, including the Southern Resident killer whales, whose ability to feed, communicate, and navigate is disrupted by underwater noise. The Port of Seattle recognizes the importance of balancing regional economic needs with the protection of marine ecosystems.
To achieve this, they’ve developed an Underwater Noise Mitigation and Management Plan aimed at reducing sound from in-water construction and vessel operations—an important step toward ensuring both people and marine life can thrive in shared waters.
Read the full article on our website: Quieting Underwater Noise to Protect Marine Life
Ray Scott: A True Outdoorsman
Ray Scott, founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), passed away at age 88. A pioneer in catch-and-release ethics, waterway conservation, and boating safety, Scott helped turn bass fishing into a professional sport while advocating for clean water and habitat protection.
Scott also partnered with organizations—including Aquarius Systems—to demonstrate aquatic plant harvesters as a safe alternative to herbicides in Texas lakes, showing that healthy fisheries and water access can coexist. His legacy lives on in the millions of anglers who practice catch-and-release, in improved lake management, and in B.A.S.S., the world’s largest fishing membership organization.
Read the full article on our website: Ray Scott: A True Outdoorsman
The Pollution Solution
Experts warn that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean, with rivers serving as the main pathways for debris. Since the mid-1970s, Aquarius Systems has developed innovative solutions to tackle this problem, beginning with the first Aquatic Trash Skimmer in Venice, Italy.
Today’s state-of-the-art Trash Hunters and Marine Debris Skimmers remove floating debris from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs—capturing plastics, tree branches, tires, and more—before they reach oceans. For example, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District collected 1,545 cubic yards of debris in a single year, preventing thousands of washing-machine-sized loads of trash from entering Lake Michigan.
Programs like the Passaic River skimmer initiative remove hundreds of tons of trash annually, protecting both freshwater and marine ecosystems. These efforts show that innovative technology, combined with persistent cleanup and prevention strategies, can make a meaningful difference in reducing water pollution globally.
Read the full article on our website: The Pollution Solution
Late Winter Freeze Means Less Algae
Researchers at McGill University studied how climate change affects under-ice lake ecosystems. Later ice formation in winter allows algae to photosynthesize longer, supporting zooplankton survival—but when the ice melts, hungry zooplankton consume spring algae earlier than usual, potentially disrupting the aquatic food web.
These findings highlight how small shifts in ice cover timing can have significant ripple effects on lake ecology.
Read the full article on our website: Late Winter Freeze Means Less Algae
Water Solutions on a Global Scale
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, known as the U.S. freshwater technology capital, recently hosted naval officers from 30 countries at the Global Water Center. Visitors learned how local companies and universities address critical water challenges—from flood sensors and septage treatment systems to research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences.
Aquarius Systems was proud to showcase its Aquatic Vegetation Cutters, Trash Skimmers, and Amphibious Excavators, which help maintain lakes and rivers for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower. Sharing expertise globally helps safeguard this vital resource for everyone.
Read the full article on our website: Water Solutions on a Global Scale
UW System to Boost Wisconsin Water Research
With 15,000 inland lakes, two Great Lakes, and thousands of rivers, Wisconsin is a prime location for freshwater research. The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin (FCW) brings students across the UW System together for a shared curriculum focused on freshwater ecosystems.
The initiative aims to train the next generation of scientists, policymakers, and engineers, while exploring the economic and ecological value of Wisconsin’s water resources. A win for both students and the state’s waterways!
Read the full article on our website: UW System to Boost Wisconsin Water Research
Wisconsin DNR Recycling Excellence Award Winner
D&D Products, Inc., home to Aquarius Systems, has been recognized with a Recycling Excellence Award for outstanding efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle in their manufacturing and office operations.
From recycling ink cartridges, electronics, scrap metal, and shipping materials to providing reusable mugs, low-flow faucets, and energy-efficient lighting, the company takes a company-wide approach to sustainability. Even small measures—like reusing dehumidifier water for plants—demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship.
Read the full article on our website: Wisconsin DNR Recycling Excellence Award Winner
How a Voluntary Lake Association Saved Carlin Lake
The Carlin Lake Association, a voluntary group of local residents, successfully protected Carlin Lake from a proposed bottling plant that would have pumped 12,000 gallons per day from the nearby aquifer.
Over seven years, the association navigated local, state, federal, and even international regulations to defend the lake, its watershed, and the surrounding community. Their efforts highlight the power of lake associations in preserving water quality, fisheries, and local ecosystems.
Read the full article on our website: How a Voluntary Lake Association Saved Carlin Lake
A Tale of Two Harvesters
Growing up on Potter’s Lake in Wisconsin, summer days meant fishing, swimming, and watching aquatic weed harvesters at work. Decades later, it turns out two colleagues at Aquarius Systems shared that same childhood experience—though they had each watched different harvesters over the years.
The first machine, purchased in 1976, was the classic “Aquarius Blue,” while the lake upgraded to a stainless-steel harvester in 1985, which is still in operation today. A small world, connected by lakes and harvesters!
Read the full article on our website: A Tale of Two Harvesters
The Pros and Cons of Phragmites
Phragmites, the invasive 12-foot-tall wetland grass, can dominate freshwater ecosystems—altering water flow, displacing native plants, and reducing habitat quality for wildlife. Herbicides or burning can reduce its spread, but these methods have environmental trade-offs.
Interestingly, phragmites also offer benefits: their root networks help protect marshes from rising sea levels, capture nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, store carbon, and even absorb legacy industrial pollutants.
The question remains—do the benefits outweigh the harms?
Read the full article on our website: The Pros and Cons of Phragmites
Aquarius Systems 