Written by Megin Potter | Photos provided
This May marks Bio-Fusion Designs’ 16th year of creating natural looking ponds and unique water features by always following their practice of “Results Driven Solutions for The Aquatics Industry.”
“We have an intense focus on transforming the outdoor living or public space to incorporate water elements with a purpose - designed for aesthetic and sound value, along with functionality,” said Bio-Fusion Designs founder, Eric Czerw.
To achieve these stunning results, Bio-Fusion Designs pays attention to the details: using multiple types of hand-picked custom cut or cored stones and rock fragments; winter hardy aquatic marginal plants, driftwood, and native vegetation; as well as a mixture of industry products best suited for the application.
Bio-Fusion Designs’ on-site and in-person approach to customized and skillfully-completed pond and waterfall building and maintenance is backed by Eric’s more than 30 years of professional experience in the aquatics industry. He has earned multiple degrees in the biological and fisheries sciences with a focus on aquaculture, along with wetland & wildlife management. As the owner and lead designer, Eric finds it important to share his knowledge with others, ensuring that Bio-Fusion’s water features are sustainable and successful eco-systems onto themselves.
The Great Waterscape
Because Bio-Fusion Designs combines their multi-faceted, hands-on experience with creativity backed by a passion for this type of work, they have the freedom to give each customer something truly unique.
During Spring 2022, the Six Flags Great Escape theme park in Lake George, NY contracted with Bio-Fusion Designs to build a water feature as the centerpiece for their front entrance remodel.
“We were provided a conceptual drawing from the client, initially. After an in-depth discussion on what they were looking for, I began immediately sourcing some of the most unique stone sections,” recalls Eric.
“These were absolutely necessary (in my mind) to complete the vision I had for this - something a theme park setting deserves.”
This amazing waterscape, deemed “The Adirondack Mountain Cascade” was built using more than 60,000 lbs. of hand-picked natural stone. A 30ft. rounded natural stone wall was constructed to create a seating area encircling the feature (which includes a watercourse with rock face panels made from sliced boulders harvested from an underwater quarry). Unique stone pillars were used as mounts for their new sign and perennial landscaping was installed to complement the design, which also includes a color-changing lighting system.
“The feature we created for the Great Escape has been such a hit that other Six Flags locations, such as those in Canada, have inquired about having something similar done,” added Eric.
Trendy Design Crosses the Pond
Another area of the industry that Bio-Fusion Designs specializes in is the creation of natural swim ponds – building them from scratch or by renovating existing in-ground swimming pools.
With popularity in Europe rising for over a decade, the trend toward more natural swim pond designs is now picking up traction in America. Natural swim ponds have natural filtration at the heart of the system instead of traditional pool chemicals to keep the water clean. This wetland or bog-style filtration system uses live aquatic / marginal plants for filtration in an efficient manner that also adds to the beauty of the waterscape.
Last summer, Bio-Fusion Designs was contracted to renovate a failing 50+ year old in-ground swimming pool in Schaghticoke, NY. After extensively researching their options, the client settled on a Natural Swim Pond Conversion by Bio-Fusion Designs.
“They believed in the creative, yet functional vision I put forward that pushed for a very unique, natural design,” said Eric.
The design came to life with the installation of more than 88,000 lbs. of hand-picked natural stone and more than 150 aquatic marginal plants, allowing the client to immerse themselves in the soothing sights and sounds of water. The expansive system includes three separate circulating waterfalls and unique accent pieces. It is an all-new addition to the natural world that fits seamlessly into its surroundings.
“The client’s family, friends, and other people who witnessed some of the construction process, were amazed by the end result,” said Eric.
For more information on the amazing possibilities incorporating water elements into personal or public spaces, visit Bio-Fusion Designs Booth - K4 - at the 2023 Saratoga Home and Lifestyle Show.
Bio-Fusion Designs is also hiring for the 2023 season and would be happy to meet with possible candidates to discuss qualifications.
Find them online at bio-fusiondesigns.com (with amazing video coverage!)
