By Jake Walker, Certified Applicator, and Kyle Steelhammer, President/Owner Northwest Aquatic Management, LLC
For many lakes and ponds across the Pacific Northwest, the hardest part of maintaining water quality isn’t identifying a problem — it’s finding a contractor who can address every aspect of lake health. Some companies apply herbicides but don’t offer mechanical harvesting. Others install fountains but can’t service them. Still others diagnose issues but can’t execute the work. Northwest Aquatic Management (NWAQUA) was founded to remove those barriers and provide complete, start-to-finish aquatic management under one roof.
Family-owned and locally operated, NWAQUA has served communities for more than twenty years with practical, science-driven solutions that protect recreation, improve water quality, and safeguard natural ecosystems throughout the Pacific Northwest. Rather than offering a single specialty, the company built its business around being a true full-service partner. NWAQUA provides surveying and consultation, noxious weed control, pond management, aeration and fountain installation and repair, mechanical plant harvesting, shoreline modification, stormwater and retention pond maintenance, bottom screening, sediment testing and coring, commercial dive work, and even support for the formation and management of Lake Management Districts. Because these services exist together under one organization, customers don’t have to juggle multiple contractors to get long-term results.
NWAQUA is also the only aquatic management contractor in the region that performs both herbicide treatments and mechanical harvesting, which allows project strategies to be developed according to the needs of each lake rather than the limitations of available equipment. The company operates a fleet of professionally outfitted treatment boats equipped with cutting-edge BioBase/Lowrance GPS technology that enables precise vegetation mapping and targeted treatment zones for minimal impact and maximum efficiency. NWAQUA holds over thirty Department of Ecology (DOE) permit coverages, maintains strong working relationships with state and county regulators, and is certified to apply products in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho, with additional areas pending, while ensuring that every product used is EPA-certified, DOE-approved, and fish and wildlife safe. The company’s emphasis on safety includes rigorous applicator training, calibrated equipment, and a consistent commitment to environmental stewardship.
Over the years, NWAQUA has become the trusted partner for an extensive range of clients, from homeowner associations and lake communities to private marinas, golf courses, and large municipal park systems. The organization maintains long-standing relationships with multiple cities, counties, and public agencies throughout the region, including parks departments, noxious weed boards, and government organizations responsible for aquatic vegetation management. These partnerships endure not simply because projects are successful, but because they are backed by reliability, accessibility, and consistent follow-through. Every project is led directly by company president Kyle Steelhammer, ensuring clear communication and accountability from planning through completion.
A significant part of NWAQUA’s identity is rooted in long-term water quality improvement rather than short-term symptom control. The team understands that healthy lakes and ponds are critical to recreation, property value, habitat health, and community wellbeing. Whether restoring a golf course pond, supporting a Lake Management District program, clearing a marina passageway, rehabilitating a stormwater pond, or reclaiming shoreline access and views, the company’s priority remains the same: clean and healthy water that people can use and enjoy.
NWAQUA is the Otterbine Certified Service Center for the Northwest US, and the Northwest distributor for Kasco Marine. NWAQUA is the Otterbine aerator and fountain specialist, handling every phase of installation and maintenance including anchoring systems, electrical configuration, control panel installation, troubleshooting, and rebuilds. These systems not only enhance aesthetics above the surface but also induce oxygen, reduce nutrient overload, and improve pond health below the surface — an ideal pairing of utility and beauty for both residential and commercial waterfronts.
Clients frequently express the same reason for working with NWAQUA: having a single, dependable contractor who can manage every phase of lake and pond care simply makes the process easier. The company has the field experience, equipment, certifications, and scientific partnerships to support every stage of aquatic management, from early-season surveys to late-season maintenance, and from emergency projects to multi-year management plans. The result is fewer unknowns, more consistency, and better long-term outcomes.
At its core, Northwest Aquatic Management exists to protect water for the people and ecosystems who depend on it. The company remains committed to continued innovation, strong partnerships with local agencies and scientists, and a hands-on approach that keeps lakes and ponds healthy, usable, and beautiful for generations to come. Communities across the Pacific Northwest rely on NWAQUA because the company does more than maintain water bodies — it supports the lifestyles, habitats, and memories connected to them.
Northwest Aquatic Management provides full-service lake and pond management, scientific surveys and consultation, vegetation control, aerator and fountain installation and service, stormwater pond rehabilitation, and shoreline and wetland restoration throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. To discuss long-term management planning or project needs, contact us at info@nwaqua.com or (360) 890-2854.
