U.S. Aqua Vac Inc., one of the country's leading pond cleaning companies, recently parlayed its extensive golf course business into the opportunity of restoring one of the most famous bodies of water in Southern California.
Lucky Lake, albeit barely an acre in size, was a popular feature for decades at the Reagan Ranch near Santa Barbara, with much of its construction done by the former President himself and friends. The pond and the nearby ranch house were frequented often by Reagan and his wife, Nancy -- shown at left at one of their favorite spots, sitting on the dock Reagan erected on Lucky Lake.
Reagan purchased the 688-acre property in 1974 near the end of his two terms as Governor of California. Also known as The Ranch in the Sky, it was nicknamed The White House of the West during his presidential years, 1981-89. After the pond was built and stocked with fish, the Reagans hosted the likes of journalists Mike Wallace and Barbara Walters -- both of whom interviewed the President at dockside -- as well as Russia's Mikhail Gorbachev and England's Queen Elizabeth.
Since Reagan's death in 2004, the ranch has been managed by one of his foundations, the Young America's Foundation. Earlier this year, with the pond having deteriorated into a morass of oxygen-depriving silt, mud and aquatic vegetation (at left), Young America's sought help in restoring the small but historic pond. Fortunately for U.S. Aqua Vac, a member of The Environmental Institute for Golf's Golden Tee Club, its reputation had preceded it.
"Golf courses are our biggest customers," says Aqua Vac general manager Brian Pirl. "I think (the foundation) heard of us through some of the golf courses in the Southern California area we've done business with. They contacted us."
The Aqua Vac method includes commercial divers operating a powerful vacuum system that sucks the silt and muck through large 10-inch-diameter hoses. More than 3 feet of silt was removed from the bottom of Lucky Lake, down to the pond liner Reagan had installed himself more than 30 years ago.
Pirl is shown at left after the pond was restored to a healthy condition. He says normal management and chemical applications should keep the water clear and clean for years to come and for visitors to the Reagan Ranch to enjoy.
"I was a really unique experience, to say the least," Pirl says.
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