Aquatic Environmental Services

What Aquatic Environmental Services does

Aquatic Environmental Services, Inc. ("AES") is a privately held, founder-owned lake and fisheries management company headquartered in Jasper, Georgia (with offices in Holly Springs, Forsyth, and formerly Ball Ground). Founded in 1996 by Greg Grimes, a UGA-trained fisheries scientist who was a driving force behind the formation of the Society of Lake Management Professionals, AES operates a field-services business focused on the science-driven management of private and institutional ponds and lakes across the Southeast US, with cumulative work in 25 states plus Mexico. The company employs 17 full-time staff including biologists with degrees from UGA, Auburn, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and others, plus a Research Department led by a PhD fisheries scientist hired in 2024.

AES offers three integrated service lines: Fishery Management Services (electrofishing surveys, fish stocking, habitat assessment and installation, supplemental feeding, DNA/otolith age analysis, fish tagging), Consultation and Monitoring (lake construction management, lake mapping/GIS, stream assessments), and Lake Management Services (annual recurring programs, water quality monitoring, aquatic weed and algae control, including cyanobacteria management, and aeration/fountain systems including a proprietary Oxygen Saturation Technology "OST"). The company sells an adjunct line of branded products (fish tagging and measurement tools, pond fertilizers, pond dyes, fish feeders, and artificial habitat structures like UglyTree) through its own e-commerce store with free contiguous-US shipping. Operations are supported by specialized equipment including custom-built electrofishing vessels, a dedicated research lake in Forsyth, GA, and a Jackson Davis-era client portal powered by SingleOps.

AES generates revenue primarily through quote-based professional services (annual service contracts and project-based lake construction, electrofishing, habitat, and stocking engagements) supplemented by direct e-commerce product sales. Its customer base is concentrated in four verticals: private lake and pond owners (primary), golf courses, government and institutional properties (county parks, military bases, office parks), and commercial/residential properties. Named customers include Orange County Parks, Florida Power & Light (3,500-acre Lake Parrish electrofishing program), a South Georgia private golf course, Powell Home Builders, and an unnamed environmental consulting firm that subcontracts to AES. GTM is sales-led via field biologists, supported by content marketing (blog, YouTube, case studies, fish-identification gallery), organic social (Facebook, Instagram), and email newsletter. The company is bootstrapped with no outside equity and operates from owner Greg Grimes's family-shareholding base, with his wife Wendy Grimes serving as Director since inception.

Name

Aquatic Environmental Services

Legal name

Aquatic Environmental Services, Inc.

Website

https://lakework.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aquatic Environmental Services is a privately held, founder-owned lake and fisheries management company based in Jasper, Georgia, delivering science-driven electrofishing, fish stocking, habitat, aeration, water quality, and full-service lake management programs to private pond owners, golf courses, government clients, and commercial properties across the Southeast US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lake and Fishery Management Services

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquaculture & Fish Health Services (AFAEANAE), Aquaculture Health, Biosecurity & Veterinary Services (AFAEAAAK)

Keywords

• Lake management services
• Fisheries management
• Lake construction
• Electrofishing surveys
• Fish stocking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ball Ground

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Lake Management Services: Recurring annual service contracts for lake management including liming, vegetation control, aeration systems, water quality testing, and equipment maintenance. Services include electrofishing, fish stocking, habitat assessment, and consultations.
2. Product Sales: Direct e-commerce sales of lake management products including fertilizers, fish feeders, habitat structures, tagging equipment, and measurement tools. Products shipped free within contiguous US.
3. Project-Based Services: One-time project engagements for specific lake development, habitat installation, and fishery construction projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aquatic Environmental Services provides science-driven professional lake and fisheries management services, including electrofishing surveys, fish stocking, habitat assessment and installation, lake construction and mapping, water quality monitoring, aquatic weed and algae control, aeration systems, and recurring annual lake management programs. The company also sells a complementary line of branded and partnered lake management products (pond fertilizers, dyes, fish feeders, tagging and measurement tools, artificial habitat) directly via its own e-commerce shop.

Product overview

Aquatic Environmental Services (AES) is a lake and fishery management company offering an integrated portfolio of specialized products and professional services for private lake owners, golf courses, commercial properties, and governmental clients. The product lineup includes fish management tools (tagging equipment, measuring devices), pond treatments (fertilizers, dyes), equipment (fish feeders, aeration systems), and habitat structures (UglyTree Fish Habitat). Services encompass the complete fishery management lifecycle: electrofishing surveys, fish stocking, habitat assessment and enhancement, supplemental feeding, DNA/age analysis, fish tagging, lake construction, consultations, lake mapping, stream assessments, annual management programs, water quality monitoring, weed/algae control, and fountain/aeration system installation. The company operates primarily across the Southeast United States with offices in Georgia and has completed projects in 25 states and over 10,000 ponds and lakes since founding in 1996.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Check-It Stik A lightweight, noncorrosive anodized aluminum measuring board used to accurately measure fish up to 25 inches in length in 1/8-inch increments; for lake owners and fisheries professionals.
• Colored Fish Tags T-Bar fish tags in Orange, Red, and White that lock between dorsal spines; sold in packs of 100 for tracking males/females, year class, or stocking class.
• Field Thermometer Water temperature measurement tool with protective case used to determine fertilizer application readiness, herbicide/algaecide timing, and trout stocking readiness.
• Fish Tagging Kit Kit including a fish tagging gun and 100 numbered T-Bar fish tags (1.75 inches) for tracking growth, year class, or stocking class.
• Numbered Fish Tags Numbered T-Bar fish tags in a variety of colors, measuring 1.75 inches, sold in packs of 100 for tracking individual fish growth and year classes.
• Pond Dye Water coloring product available in Shortline Blue, Super Strong Aqua, Super Strong Black, Super Strong Blue, and Super Strong Midnight Blue; sold in quart bottles covering four acre-feet for 6-8 weeks to shade out submersed aquatic weed growth and improve lake aesthetics.
• Pond Management Kit Comprehensive kit bundling a 25-inch Check-It Stik Measuring Board, Fish Scale, Pocket Thermometer, Secchi Disk, Clipboard, data sheets (Largemouth Bass Relative Weight Index, Fertilization Log, Harvest Log, Feeding Log), Pistol Grip Tag Gun, 100 Numbered Tags, and 50 Colored Tags.
• Replacement Tagging Needles Five-pack of standard .077 OD tagging needles compatible with the Fish Tag Gun, used as replacements during tagging operations.
• Summer Blend Pond Fertilizer (22-5-10) High-nitrogen 22-5-10 N-P-K pond fertilizer for summer months when nitrogen is low; designed to manipulate N:P ratio to favor green phytoplankton over cyanobacteria, cast directly into pond without dilution.
• Tagging Gun Pistol-grip style fish tagging gun with .077 OD needle, inserting tags to 5/8 inch depth; compatible with AES Numbered and Colored Fish Tags.
• Texas Hunter Fish Feeder Professional-grade fish feeder with 100 lb fish feed and 175 lb corn capacity, projecting feed in a 45-by-20 foot wedge-shaped pattern via high-velocity air stream; EZ Set Digital Timer with 5-year warranty, dual motor system, adjustable/dock legs, optional solar panel.
• Trophy Grower Max Pond Fertilizer (10-52-4) High-phosphorus 10-52-4 N-P-K pond fertilizer with micro-nutrient package for trophy fishery programs; applied at 8 lbs/acre in spring followed by 4 lbs/acre after bloom, dissolves in water without dilution.
• UglyTree Fish Habitat Artificial fish habitat with over 1 million leaflets promoting periphyton growth; kit includes 3 bushes, 1 bottom fork, and 1 vertical support float, recommended for installation in clusters of 3-4 trees in at least 6 feet of water.
• Electrofishing Services Fish population sampling service using AES's state-of-the-art electrofishing boat to safely sample fish populations, measure health conditions, and collect baseline data for management plans; for lake owners, golf courses, government, and commercial clients.
• Fish Stocking Services Customized fish stocking plans including forage fish, crawfish, trout, grass carp, and sportfish species to achieve client fishery goals such as trophy bass or family-friendly fisheries.
• Habitat Assessment & Enhancement Aquatic habitat evaluation and improvement services including artificial habitat installation, spawning bed construction, and natural habitat enhancement.
• Supplemental Fish Feeding Fish feeding programs using automated fish feeders to supplement forage and enhance fish growth rates throughout the year, including Purina AquaMax feed products.
• DNA & Age Analysis (Otolith Aging) Fish aging and genetic analysis using otolith (ear stone) examination to determine fish age, growth rates, and population dynamics for fisheries management programs.
• Fish Tagging (service) Fish tagging service using T-Bar tags to track individual fish growth, monitor year classes, and study fish movement patterns.
• Lake Construction Lake design and construction management services for creating new water bodies from initial planning through construction completion.
• Consultations Expert consultation services for lake management strategies, fishery development, and property planning.
• Lake Mapping Detailed lake mapping services creating accurate representations of physical characteristics including depth, shape, and bottom topography.
• Stream Assessments & Ecosystem Monitoring Ecological assessment and monitoring services for streams and connected aquatic ecosystems.
• Annual Service Program Comprehensive year-round lake management service including liming, vegetation control, aeration systems, water quality testing, and equipment maintenance, delivered under recurring annual contracts.
• Water Quality Monitoring Water quality testing and monitoring including alkalinity, nutrient levels, dissolved oxygen, plankton identification, and water temperature analysis.
• Aquatic Weed & Algae Control Vegetation and algae management services including chemical treatment, grass carp stocking, and integrated management strategies for nuisance aquatic plants.
• Fountains & Aeration Aeration system installation and maintenance including decorative fountains, surface aerators, aerating fountains, bottom diffused aeration, and proprietary Oxygen Saturation Technology (OST) systems for improved water quality and fish habitat.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bass relative weight increased from 90% to over 110% within a few years using science-backed strategies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AquaEliteminorOthersProduct partner for aquatic management solutions
• BioBoost NestminorOthersProduct partner for lake management products
• Cygnet EnterprisesminorOthersProduct partner for lake management products
• Honey Hole Artificial HabitatminorOthersProduct partner for fish habitat products
• Hydro GlowminorOthersProduct partner for aeration and lighting products
• KascominorOthersProduct partner for aeration and fountain equipment
• Mossback HabitatminorOthersProduct partner for fish habitat structures used in projects like 140-acre Alabama lake
• Outdoor Water SolutionsminorOthersProduct partner for lake management products
• PurinaminorOthersFish food partner (Purina AquaMax products) for supplemental fish feeding programs
• Reveal Cellular CameraminorOthersProduct partner for wildlife monitoring cameras
• SePROminorOthersProduct partner for aquatic herbicides and water quality products
• Texas Hunter ProductsminorOthersProduct partner for fish feeders and hunting products sold in AES shop
• Ugly Tree Fish HabitatminorOthersProduct partner for fish habitat sold in AES shop
• Society of Lake Management Professionals (SLMP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding and accredited members; Greg Grimes was a driving force behind the formation of SLMP
• Midsouth Aquatic Plant Management Society (MSAPMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembers of MSAPMS professional organization

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PondHawk: Specialty aeration and lake management provider targeting private lakes, HOAs and golf courses with a complementary product/service mix to AES.
• Lake & Wetland Management: Lakes, ponds, wetlands and fisheries management firm covering the Midwest/Southeast with aeration, vegetation management and stocking services comparable to AES' portfolio.
• The Lake Doctors: Florida-headquartered lake, pond, and fisheries management company offering stocking, aeration, vegetation control and water-quality services mirroring AES's annual service program approach.
• SOLitude Lake Management: Provides comprehensive lake and pond management services including fisheries management, aquatic weed control, aeration, and water-quality monitoring directly competitive with AES across the eastern US.
• Aquatic Management & Engineering Services (AMES): Operates a lake and pond management franchise-style service across multiple states covering lake management plans, fish stocking, aeration and erosion control, overlapping AES' full-service offering.

Broad incumbents

• SePRO Corporation: Large specialty chemical and biological products supplier for aquatic vegetation management; AES is a partner/reseller of SePRO herbicides but SePRO also targets the same end market with broader resources.
• Davey Tree Expert Company (Aquatic Services): Large diversified environmental services firm with an aquatic services division offering lake/pond management, fisheries work and aeration at a much bigger geographic scale than AES.

Others

• Kasco Marine: Aeration, fountain and de-icing equipment manufacturer whose products AES resells and installs; an ecosystem partner with overlapping customer pool in lake management.
• Mossback Fish Habitat: Artificial fish habitat structures manufacturer and supplier used by AES in habitat installation projects such as the 140-acre Alabama lake, addressing the same private-lake owner demand for fishery improvement.
• Texas Hunter Products: Fish feeder and outdoor products manufacturer whose automated feeders AES resells and installs as part of its supplemental feeding programs, competing for the same trophy-fishery pond owner wallet.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LakeWork
• Facebookfacebook.com/AquaticEnvironmentalServicesInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquatic-environmental-services-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/lakework
• Xx.com/AES_LakeWork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aquatic Environmental Services