Project Overview

As part of its Town Center development, the City of Early, Texas set out to transform a former agricultural pond into a 7-acre recreational fishing lake designed to serve as a long-term community asset.

Shortly after construction and refill, the lake experienced significant water quality challenges driven by elevated nutrient levels and rapid algae growth.

Oase Water Technology, working alongside Texas Pro Lake Management, was engaged to design and deliver a science-led nutrient management strategy focused on long-term system stability.

“We wanted to do something different than just build another park. We envisioned turning this into a fishing lake that could really become the heart of the community.” – Tony Aaron, City Administrator, City of Early

The Challenge

Although the lake itself was newly constructed, it was filled using existing river water. This introduced high nutrient loads into a system without an established biological foundation, creating ideal conditions for algae growth.

Key challenges included:

• Elevated phosphorus concentrations
• Imbalanced nitrogen dynamics
• Rapid algae development and poor water clarity
• Limited microbial activity in newly formed sediments
• A requirement for solutions safe for public use

“We brought old water into a new pond. That meant high nutrients, but without the sediment bacteria needed to process them. And we needed something that could actually control the phosphorus. That was the missing piece.” – Steven Bardin, Texas Pro Lake Management

Early stabilisation measures such as aeration and sonic control helped, but phosphorus remained the critical limiting factor.

The Solution

Following water sampling and nutrient analysis, OASE and Texas Pro Lake Management implemented a targeted nutrient management approach designed to address root causes rather than suppress symptoms.

At the centre of the solution was SeDox Max, a calcium peroxide-based treatment engineered to:

• Permanently bind bioavailable phosphorus
• Release oxygen during activation rather than depleting it
• Support beneficial microbial processes
• Improve nitrogen cycling and overall system stability

SeDox Max was applied using a controlled, boat-based method to ensure even distribution across the lake, alongside beneficial bacteria to support biological balance.

“With most of the issue being in the water column, we were able to treat the lake with SeDox Max to bind the phosphorus and support nitrogen balance.” – Steven Bardin, Texas Pro Lake Management

Importantly, application was non-disruptive, allowing normal recreational use of the lake to continue.

“Our products are all mineral-based with no harmful chemicals. So, as we applying the product, people were out here fishing, walking around, talking, with no smells, no harmful chemicals going throughout the air.” – Hayden Osborn, Oase Water Technology

The Results

Results were rapid, visible, and sustained.

“One of the first things we noticed was the water becoming visibly clearer during application.” – Steven Bardin, Texas Pro Lake Management

During application, water clarity improved immediately, with filamentous algae visibly declining. In the weeks that followed, the lake transitioned from eutrophic conditions to a clear, stable system aligned with regional expectations.

“Instead of green soup, you could start to see down into the water again. It looked natural.” – Tony Aaron, City Administrator, City of Early

Key outcomes included:

• Significant reduction in phosphorus availability
• Rapid improvement in water clarity
• Suppression of nuisance algae growth
• Improved oxygen conditions
• Stabilised nutrient dynamics

These improvements have been maintained into subsequent seasons, demonstrating long-term effectiveness.

Community Impact

The restored lake now functions as a central feature of the City of Early’s Town Center, supporting recreational fishing, walking, and everyday community use.

From a municipal perspective, improved water quality has increased the usability, perception, and long-term value of the site, supporting broader development and placemaking goals.

“Instead of just having a body of water, we now have a pristine opportunity for people to enjoy, fish, and spend time together.” – Tony Aaron, City Administrator, City of Early

Product Validation

This project provides strong third-party validation for SeDox Max as a solution for new or renovated water bodies where nutrient imbalance and biological immaturity present high risk.

Validated performance outcomes include:

• Effective phosphorus control in a high-load system
• Visible improvement during application
• Safe use in publicly accessible environments
• Compatibility with aeration and biological strategies
• Long-term stabilisation rather than short-term algae suppression

“With each application, we bind phosphorus and release oxygen, we don’t deplete it. That’s a key difference.” – Hayden Osborn, Oase Water Technology

Ongoing Partnership

The City of Early continues to work with Oase Water Technology and Texas Pro Lake Management as part of a preventative, long-term water quality strategy, ensuring the lake remains a sustainable community asset.

“The City of Early has been one of those partners you dream of. They’re doing something for their community we wish we could replicate across the state.” – Steven Bardin, Texas Pro Lake Management