Pond Management

1. Pond Management ANR Update October 24th 2012 Forrest Wynne KSU Aquaculture Extension Specialist

2. Winter Pond Care? • Good time to lime ponds if needed • (total alkalinity < 30 mg/L) • Turn off and remove aerators or diffusers (except ice eaters) Not much left to do!

3. Most frequent pond management calls Aquatic plant /algae control Fish kills and what can be done about them 3. Leaking ponds and how to repair them

4. Aquatic plant control

5. Send pictures or samples • Wrap plants in wet paper towels, put in zip lock plastic bags and mail • Digital photos of good quality will lead to an identification most of the time.

6. Digital pictures help! Send them! Euglena bloom Euglena

7. http://srac.tamu.edu http://aquaplant.tamu.edu These sites are linked to: http://www.ksuaquaculture.org Find aquatic plant control fact sheets at these web sites and link:

9. Aquatic pesticides nationally registered as of 2012 (13) • Copper (1950?) • 2,4-D (1959) • Endo thall (1960) • Diquat (1962) • Glyphosate (1977) • Floridone (1986) • Triclopyr (Renovate, 2002) • Imazapyr (Habitat 2003) • Imazamox (Clearcast 2008) KDA registered • Penoxsulam (Galleon, 2007) KDA registered • Carfentrazone (Stingray 2004) not KDA registered • Flumioxazin (Clipper, 2010) not KDA registered • Bispyribac-sodium (2011)not KDA registered

10. Fish Kills

11. De-stratified pond conditions occur most of the year except during summer

12. Stratification may lead to poor water quality

13. Ice covered ponds are stratified

14. Why Aerate or Circulate Water in Ponds? • Plants, microbes and fish in ponds may consume more dissolved oxygen than can be replenished from the atmosphere • Avoid acute and chronic mortality • Improve water quality

15. Vertical pump aerators – Best used in ponds 10 feet in depth or less • Best used in small, shallow ponds < 1 acre • May provide very limited water circulation in larger ponds

16. De-stratification diffuser devices – best for deeper ponds • Land based electric powered compressors • One or more diffuser stone manifolds • Medium bubble size (1-3 mm) to reduce diffuser clogging due to buildup of calcium carbonate

17. What does not work so well

18. Wind Driven Aerators or De-stratification devices • Most locations have no wind when it is needed most – during hot weather • 33% capacity efficiency - no wind or too much wind • Costs about the same as an electric unit • Use when electrical installation is cost prohibitive • Low stocking densities

19. Solar Aeration (De-stratification) devices • At night or during periods of cloud cover? • Cost? • Use where electrical installation is cost prohibitive • Use at low stocking densities

20. Fountains • Nice looking! • Inefficient aerators or water circulating devices – may suffice in very small ponds • Cost about the same as an aerator • Uses similar amounts of electricity

21. Leaking ponds and how to repair them • SRAC #105 – from re- compacting dams to artificial liner installation. • Publications on proper site selection and construction.

22. Poor site selection Inadequate soils Improper soil compaction Most difficult pond related problem! Pond seepage

23. Lined ponds – a very expensive option!

24. Thank you!