Lake Lariat Clam Project
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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources issued a first of its kind set of permits for the collection and
stocking of Corbicula clams this past May 2005. As such, Lake Lariat, in the Chesapeake Ranch Estates, is
the first watershed in the country to get an opportunity to test new methods for cleaning the water column
using floating clam reef systems. With the placement of three floats on Mill Creek below the dam, the first
phase of the project is now complete. If basic survival can be confirmed, there is a possibility the project will
move to its next phase of placing six clam floats and a solar powered pump on the lake above the dam
sometime this year.
Why are we doing this? Southern Maryland aquifers are running low on available water and there is
growing competition for the resource locally and throughout the region. Although Lake Lariat might never be
a reservoir, surface water impoundments need to be considered as possible drinking water sources to
augment or replace aquifer based water sources sometime later in this Century. The Lake Lariat Clam
Project is an opportunity to test the viability of floating clam reefs as engineered systems that have the
potential to lower the total cost of water treatment and enhance important environmental quality factors such
as pH balance and the oxygen content of the lake.
Other benefits to be achieved by a successful Lake Lariat Clam Project will be improved water quality for
recreational activities such as fishing, boating, swimming and improved property values throughout the
community. Nutrient reduction by successful clam float systems will also reduce the cost of storm water
management. The system technology will also improve water circulation, improve the oxygen content at all
depths, and remove organic muck from the deep portions of Lake Lariat. If successful, clam float systems
could also permanently mitigate the need to replace septic tanks with sewers. Another longer term benefit
to a successful Lake Lariat Clam Project is the potential to clear up the water column so that light
penetrates to a deeper depth. Deep light penetration will increase the total biomass of the lake; which will
improve the number and size of sport fish, create a profusion of sub-aquatic plants, and sustain a healthy
ecosystem.
How does it work? The Lake Lariat Clam Project is a freshwater test of two patented system technologies
called Biological Nutrient ControlTM (BNCTM) and Infectious Agent ControlTM (IACTM). System inventor,
Richard Pelz, has successfully demonstrated that Chesapeake Bay oysters (Crassostrea virginica) grown
within floating reef systems grow three to five times faster than natural bottom oysters.
In the floating reef systems the shellfish are always in the layer of the water column that has the highest
oxygen content and plenty of sunlight. Oxygen is important to the shellfish for health and metabolic efficiency
and sunlight is important to the algae that the shellfish feed on as the algae need sunlight to produce
sugar. In effect, the floating reefs exploit a well understood biological process called the Kreb’s cycle of
energy production. According to the theory, an organism is optimally efficient when it can perform aerobic
combustion of sugar in the presence of oxygen. Aerobic combustion of sugar within an organism is 32
times more efficient than the anaerobic alternative. Simply put, a shellfish that lives at the surface of the
water column is far more likely to be performing aerobic processes in contrast to a bottom dwelling
shellfish that is more likely to be performing anaerobic processes. Aerobic processes contribute to animal
health, vigor, disease resistance, rapid growth, and successful reproduction.
Based on our current knowledge of BNCTM dynamics, the clam reefs will need to be deployed in shallow
water coves, 3 to 4 feet in depth, that are near deep water channels, over 10 feet in depth. Floating reefs with
electric pumps will be used to circulate water from the deep channels below the thermocline to points up
stream of where the floating clam reefs are anchored within shallow water coves. The circulation pattern will
be designed to remove stagnant nutrients from the deep, anoxic portions of the lake in order to stimulate
algal blooms in the shallow, high oxygen regions of the lake. Floating clam reefs within the shallows will
then consume the algae, converting it into clam biomass, pseudofeces and waste products that drop to the
bottom to become food for other organisms. The clams will also clean bacteria and other microscopic,
infectious agents from the water column. At full performance the clam systems deployed to Lake Lariat will
have a design performance goal of cleaning 5.5 million gallons of water per day or 1.1 billion gallons of
water per year. The estimated capacity of Lake Lariat is 317 million gallons.
Who is performing the work? Lake Lariat Clam Project, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit Maryland corporation
founded by two members of our Community. The primary mission of the Project is to attract funding for
conducting research and education activities related to floating shellfish reef technologies. The Corporation
was formed to attract funding from public and private sources for the research and development of new
shellfish system technologies that will provide modern, high yield farming practices; produce drought proof,
high protein food sources; and create water treatment systems that support human habitation while
providing beneficial impact on the surrounding environment. In the simplest terms, the Lake Lariat Clam
Project will develop new technology that allows mankind to maintain a cleaner quality of life and a lower
cost of living in an environmentally responsible manner.
Nutrient and infectious agent control issues are not unique to Lake Lariat or Calvert County. Once it is
proven that floating clam reef systems can be used to perform effective surface water treatment here at
Lake Lariat, it is natural that the system technology will be exported throughout the state, the nation, and the
world. When that happens our Community of Chesapeake Ranch Estates can be proud of the contribution
we made to a better world by supporting the Lake Lariat Clam Project, “From Green Water to Clean
Water”.
For more information or interest in opportunities to support the Lake Lariat Clam Project, please contact
Sandi Sullivan at 410-326-0150 or Don Statter at 410-326-6958.
stocking of Corbicula clams this past May 2005. As such, Lake Lariat, in the Chesapeake Ranch Estates, is
the first watershed in the country to get an opportunity to test new methods for cleaning the water column
using floating clam reef systems. With the placement of three floats on Mill Creek below the dam, the first
phase of the project is now complete. If basic survival can be confirmed, there is a possibility the project will
move to its next phase of placing six clam floats and a solar powered pump on the lake above the dam
sometime this year.
Why are we doing this? Southern Maryland aquifers are running low on available water and there is
growing competition for the resource locally and throughout the region. Although Lake Lariat might never be
a reservoir, surface water impoundments need to be considered as possible drinking water sources to
augment or replace aquifer based water sources sometime later in this Century. The Lake Lariat Clam
Project is an opportunity to test the viability of floating clam reefs as engineered systems that have the
potential to lower the total cost of water treatment and enhance important environmental quality factors such
as pH balance and the oxygen content of the lake.
Other benefits to be achieved by a successful Lake Lariat Clam Project will be improved water quality for
recreational activities such as fishing, boating, swimming and improved property values throughout the
community. Nutrient reduction by successful clam float systems will also reduce the cost of storm water
management. The system technology will also improve water circulation, improve the oxygen content at all
depths, and remove organic muck from the deep portions of Lake Lariat. If successful, clam float systems
could also permanently mitigate the need to replace septic tanks with sewers. Another longer term benefit
to a successful Lake Lariat Clam Project is the potential to clear up the water column so that light
penetrates to a deeper depth. Deep light penetration will increase the total biomass of the lake; which will
improve the number and size of sport fish, create a profusion of sub-aquatic plants, and sustain a healthy
ecosystem.
How does it work? The Lake Lariat Clam Project is a freshwater test of two patented system technologies
called Biological Nutrient ControlTM (BNCTM) and Infectious Agent ControlTM (IACTM). System inventor,
Richard Pelz, has successfully demonstrated that Chesapeake Bay oysters (Crassostrea virginica) grown
within floating reef systems grow three to five times faster than natural bottom oysters.
In the floating reef systems the shellfish are always in the layer of the water column that has the highest
oxygen content and plenty of sunlight. Oxygen is important to the shellfish for health and metabolic efficiency
and sunlight is important to the algae that the shellfish feed on as the algae need sunlight to produce
sugar. In effect, the floating reefs exploit a well understood biological process called the Kreb’s cycle of
energy production. According to the theory, an organism is optimally efficient when it can perform aerobic
combustion of sugar in the presence of oxygen. Aerobic combustion of sugar within an organism is 32
times more efficient than the anaerobic alternative. Simply put, a shellfish that lives at the surface of the
water column is far more likely to be performing aerobic processes in contrast to a bottom dwelling
shellfish that is more likely to be performing anaerobic processes. Aerobic processes contribute to animal
health, vigor, disease resistance, rapid growth, and successful reproduction.
Based on our current knowledge of BNCTM dynamics, the clam reefs will need to be deployed in shallow
water coves, 3 to 4 feet in depth, that are near deep water channels, over 10 feet in depth. Floating reefs with
electric pumps will be used to circulate water from the deep channels below the thermocline to points up
stream of where the floating clam reefs are anchored within shallow water coves. The circulation pattern will
be designed to remove stagnant nutrients from the deep, anoxic portions of the lake in order to stimulate
algal blooms in the shallow, high oxygen regions of the lake. Floating clam reefs within the shallows will
then consume the algae, converting it into clam biomass, pseudofeces and waste products that drop to the
bottom to become food for other organisms. The clams will also clean bacteria and other microscopic,
infectious agents from the water column. At full performance the clam systems deployed to Lake Lariat will
have a design performance goal of cleaning 5.5 million gallons of water per day or 1.1 billion gallons of
water per year. The estimated capacity of Lake Lariat is 317 million gallons.
Who is performing the work? Lake Lariat Clam Project, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit Maryland corporation
founded by two members of our Community. The primary mission of the Project is to attract funding for
conducting research and education activities related to floating shellfish reef technologies. The Corporation
was formed to attract funding from public and private sources for the research and development of new
shellfish system technologies that will provide modern, high yield farming practices; produce drought proof,
high protein food sources; and create water treatment systems that support human habitation while
providing beneficial impact on the surrounding environment. In the simplest terms, the Lake Lariat Clam
Project will develop new technology that allows mankind to maintain a cleaner quality of life and a lower
cost of living in an environmentally responsible manner.
Nutrient and infectious agent control issues are not unique to Lake Lariat or Calvert County. Once it is
proven that floating clam reef systems can be used to perform effective surface water treatment here at
Lake Lariat, it is natural that the system technology will be exported throughout the state, the nation, and the
world. When that happens our Community of Chesapeake Ranch Estates can be proud of the contribution
we made to a better world by supporting the Lake Lariat Clam Project, “From Green Water to Clean
Water”.
For more information or interest in opportunities to support the Lake Lariat Clam Project, please contact
Sandi Sullivan at 410-326-0150 or Don Statter at 410-326-6958.
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"From Green Water to Clean Water"
"From Green Water to Clean Water"
Lake Lariat Clam Project