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Rick Bartel is recognized most notably throughout the industry for his development of The R.I.S.E. Method, a natural approach to rock and boulder placement techniques, which was published as a new book that reached best seller status. Rick holds a Master of Science degree in Wildlife Biology, with an emphasis in habitat management. As a water feature designer, Rick is credited with reaching the eleven million gallon milestone. He has been internationally published more than 300 times for articles on the subject of quality water feature design and installation.
Rick and his water features have been featured on the DIY Networks Waterscapes Workshop and the Animal Planet as well as HGTV’s Extreme Landscapes which has resulted in more than 1,800 national and international awards and recognitions for his phenomenal work. He is also a design consultant for the National Wildlife Federation’s Habitat Program with more than 250 certified wildlife refuges centered on his water creations. Rick currently serves as the Program Administrator and Primary Instructor for the Savio Water Feature Institute and recently was named Water Garden News’ 2010 Pond Builder of the Year. |
May 7, 2012, 7 p.m. EDT
Water Feature Plumbing Calculations for Total Gallon Capacity
From time to time water feature contractors experience issues with total available water for circulation. Read more»
March 27, 2012, 6 p.m. EST
Educational Displays Trend at Distributor Installations
We all have heard that displays sell product. This is why so many retailer educational classes include display techniques. Read more»
March 19, 2012, 7 p.m. EST
Excavation Techniques for Streams and Creeks
For an untold number of years, pond and water feature contractors have allowed their excavations to dictate what they can and cannot do with the freedom of aesthetic design and artistic interpretation in natural appearing water feature installations. Read more»
Feb. 23, 2012, 5 p.m. EST
How to Properly Price Water Feature Projects
Properly pricing a water feature installation project can be quite critical to the success of your business. Read more»
Feb. 6, 2012, 5:30 p.m. EST
The Importance of Continuing Educational Training
I believe in quality education and advocate good-quality training and educational opportunities for pond and water feature contractors. Read more»
Jan. 26, 2012, 3:20 p.m. EST
Understand the Dangers of Chlorine in Fish Ponds
Pond owners and service providers have argued the validity of watching the level of chlorine in ponds and whether those chlorine levels are harmful to the aquatic life in a pond. Read more»
Jan. 9, 2012, 8:40 p.m. EST
Pond Professionals Give Beyond Our Borders
Whether we are in retail, manufacturing, distribution or design and installation services, many of us have made a very good living working within the pond and water feature industry. Read more»
Dec. 28, 2011, 6 p.m. EST
A Bright Outlook for the 2012 Pond Season
The pond and water feature industry is showing significant growth during the last part of 2011. Read more»
Dec. 12, 2011, 7 p.m. EST
Proper Use of Ultraviolet Systems
In a never-ending quest to eradicate algae from water feature systems, many pond owners do not apply the technology or size the ultraviolet systems properly to the water features in question. Read more»
Nov. 28, 2011, 5:45 p.m. EST
Teach Owners to Feed Their Fish, Not Their Ponds
One of the largest sources of potentially harmful water quality issues results from an over-abundance of pond fish food. Read more»
Nov. 14, 2011, 5 p.m. EST
Bigger IS Better for Live Water Features
In the case of live water features, the expression "bigger is better" is correct. Read more»
Oct. 24, 2011, 3:15 p.m. EDT
A Lesson in Pond Skimmers
It’s time we take a really good look at skimmers, clear the air about how these devices really work and review the science behind their effectiveness. Read more»
Oct. 11, 2011, 3:15 p.m. EDT
Add Endorphin Information to Marketing Plans
Beautifully designed and brilliantly structured water features have long been a much sought after element in top landscapes around the world. Read more»
Sept. 26, 2011, 3:40 p.m. EDT
Increase Market Share with Water Features for Wildlife
Have you noticed how wildlife species naturally are drawn to backyard ponds and water features? Read more»
Sept. 12, 2011, 3:40 p.m. EDT
Saturate Your Pond Business Success with Wood, Water
The dissatisfaction some pond and water garden contractors express about the limited material choices for water feature installation is unfounded. Read more»
Aug. 29, 2011, 3 p.m. EDT
The Pond Industry Embraces Education, Values
I am pleased to see the increased efforts by the pond and water garden industry’s leading organizations to once again step up the level of fundamental values available in the onslaught of recent educational venues provided for pond and water garden contractors. Read more»
Aug. 15, 2011, 12 a.m. EDT
Swimming Ponds ... Friend or Foe in the Pond Industry?
There have been renewed efforts recently to continue to introduce swimming ponds into the U.S. pond and water feature market. Read more»
Aug. 13, 2011, 12 a.m. EDT
Contemplating Aquatic Plants, Water Features in China
It is time to bid farewell to this awesome country that honored our attendance at the 2011 International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society's International Water Feature Symposium at every possible turn. Read more»
Aug. 12, 2011, 12 a.m. EDT
Unique Water Features Found Near the Great Wall of China
Today we visited the second of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as we hiked and explored the Great Wall of China and some unique water features found in the area. Read more»
Aug. 11, 2011, 12 a.m. EDT
In the Forbidden City, No Electricity and No Pump ... No Problem!
We received a real treat today during our visit to the first of two UNESCO World Heritage sites in China. Read more»
Aug. 10, 2011, 12 a.m. EDT
On to Beijing for More Aquatic Plant Finds
We left the beautiful city of Qingdao behind to embark on a high-speed journey five hours north. Read more»
Aug. 9, 2011, 3 p.m. EDT
Lotus, Waterlilies Everywhere
On this, my final day in Qingdao, China, for the 2011 International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society's International Water Feature Symposium, I took a return trip to the awesome Chinese Waterlily World. Read more»
Aug. 1, 2011, 3 p.m. EDT
The Details of Success
Success is a topic pond and water feature contractors often ask me about in my educational seminars. Read more»
July 29, 2011, 4 p.m. EDT
IWGS Gets an "A" for Event Organization, Execution
Today the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society's Executive Commitee arranged for 12 guest speakers from around the globe to speaking on topics ranging from Quality Water Feature Design and Installation Practices to Harvesting Waterlilies and Lotus for food products. Read more»
July 28, 2011, 7:30 p.m. EDT
A Visit to Chinese Waterlily World
The entire group at the 2011 International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society's International Water Feature Symposium met at 7 a.m. for a hearty breakfast before embarking on a 30-minute police-escorted journey to the impressive Chinese Waterlily World on the outer edges of Qingdao, China. Read more»
July 27, 2011, 12 a.m. EDT
Where Did China's Water Features Go?
Today was the first official day for the 2011 International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society's International Water Feature Symposium in Qingdao, China. Read more»
July 26, 2011, 6 p.m. EDT
The Precision and Flow of Asian Culture
I have arrived in Southeast Asia, and already it's an amazing experience. Everywhere I look it is severely overcrowded with millions of people with their personal agendas, going in a hundred different directions all at the same time. Read more»
July 18, 2011, 2 p.m. EDT
The Right Rock for the Right Water Feature Look - Part 4 of 4
There are three final surface characteristics and attributes that I look for when selecting the rocks and boulders for any water feature project in which I want a natural-looking end result. Read more»
July 5, 2011, 8 p.m. EDT
The Right Rock for the Right Water Feature Look - Part 3 of 4
Now it is time to focus on what we should look for and use to achieve the ultimate in natural water feature appearances. Read more»
June 20, 2011, 6 p.m. EDT
The Right Rock for the Right Water Feature Look - Part 2 of 4
This week, let's take a close look at the critical misuse flagstone. Read more»
June 6, 2011, 3 p.m. EDT
The Right Rock for the Right Water Feature Look - Part 1 of 4
Commanding a higher price for your water feature installations requires that you provide an absolutely phenomenal appearance in the end result. Read more»
May 23, 2011, 12 a.m. EDT
Use Aquatic Plants Effectively in Water Features
As humans, we always attempt to change or improve on nature, and we regularly fail miserably. Read more»
May 10, 2011, 12 a.m. EDT
Tips for Placing Large Rocks, Boulders
By following a few guidelines and precautions, large rock and boulder placement can be relatively simple, easy and safe. Read more»
April 18, 2011, 12 a.m. EDT
To Clean or Not to Clean...Rocks, Gravel
Many contractors spend huge amounts of time in total man-hours trying to adequately clean all of the rocks and gravel used in a typical water feature project. Read more»
March 28, 2011, 8:30 p.m. EDT
Wage War Against Algae
The term "algae season" sounds a lot like a seasonal medical epidemic doesn’t it? Read more»
March 15, 2011, 12 a.m. EDT
Dissolved Oxygen: Is Your Pond Water Healthy?
DO you DO everything you can DO to keep your pond healthy? How about DO? Read more»
Feb. 28, 2011, 12 a.m. EST
No Place for Heavy Metal in Water Features
The Top 100 All-Time Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Bands list by Gears of Rock lists Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Metallica at the top, but these are not the heavy metals we’re concerned about in the water feature industry. Read more»
Feb. 14, 2011, 12 a.m. EST
Square and Compare in Water Feature Applications
Properly sizing pipe for adequate flow rates in water feature applications has been overlooked and, in some cases, ignored for years. Read more»
Feb. 1, 2011, 5 p.m. EST
Protect Your Pond-installation Business with Contracts
If you operate a pond and water feature installation business without using contracts between your company and your clients, you might need to rethink this omission. Read more»
Jan. 18, 2011, 12 a.m. EST
Internet Visibility: Social Networks Versus Business Networks
Many pond and water garden business owners and managers wonder what does and does not work when it comes to Internet visibility for their companies, and many are turning to various networking sites. Read more»
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