Ponds offer a variety of benefits, including enhancing biodiversity, providing recreational opportunities, and improving water conservation and flood control. They also contribute to a more relaxing and aesthetically pleasing environment, potentially increasing property value. However, ponds also require regular maintenance.
To get the most enjoyment out of your pond, active management can save you a lot of work in the long run.
If you would like general assistance regarding pond management, please call the office at 440-326-5800 or visit the resources provided below.
For more technical expertise, please contact Fender's Fish Hatchery at (740) 622-0681 or visit their website.
You can also contact Dr. Eugene Braig, aquatic ecosystems specialist with Ohio State University Extension in the School of Environment and Natural Resources. His expertise is in “wild”-like sites, ponds and lakes as habitats, and recreational fisheries (i.e., as relate to fishing). He does not have a direct phone number, so emailing him is your best way to contact him at braig.1@osu.edu
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Always check with your local township/municipality first before constructing a pond on your property.
Ponds
FALL POND POINTERS
As temperatures become more moderate throughout fall, it’s a great opportunity to give your backyard pond some TLC. Fall is a popular time to stock ponds – fish are widely available and the cooler water temperatures and higher oxygen levels lead to more successful introduction of fish than during the hot summer months. Weed or algae treatment becomes an option again if temperatures are not too high. See OSU Extension for recommendations regarding chemical treatments.
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Remove dead vegetation, including excessive fallen leaves. Once trapped below the ice, they contribute to oxygen deprivation in the pond which can cause a fish kill.
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If you’ve been using fertilizer, make sure to discontinue use. Most ponds in Ohio should not be fertilized, but if it is necessary, it should be conducted only when water temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees, according to ODNR’s Pond Management Handbook (available for download below).
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If you use an aerator, create a plan for the transition to cold temperatures. This may involve aerating less or moving the aerator to a different depth within the pond, depending on the aeration system or desired outcome. Check out your aerator’s manufacturer recommendations or consult a pond management contractor for options.
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Consider dredging your pond. Ponds fill over time with organic material, causing water quality to suffer. Early autumn is a great time for dredging, while water levels are still lower. You can find a list of contractors on our Contractors & Consultants Lists page.
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More information:
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Using Grass Carp to Control Aquatic Plants
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Chemical Control of Aquatic Plants
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Ponds and Legal Liability in Ohio
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Common Causes of Fish Kills in Ponds
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Water Quality Concerns for Ponds
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Understanding Spring Pond Turnover
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Preventing Winter Fish Kills
Creating a Healthy Pond is Easy as 1, 2, 3
01
It Starts With Design
When constructing a new pond the banks should be graded to a 3:1 ratio, or for every three feet of distance out into the pond the bank should drop one foot. Also, at least 25 percent of the pond should be dug to 10-12 feet if possible. This will deter the growth of rooted plants by limiting the total surface area in which these plants can grow.
02
Plan Ahead
Second, a vegetation control program throughout the summer growing season is recommended. By managing and controlling plants during the summer you will limit the amount of dying/decomposing vegetation in the winter. This can be done by using herbicides and adding pond dyes to shade the water which will help limit plant growth. Good watershed management practices will also help limit as many nutrients as possible from entering the pond. Make sure grass clippings are not washed into the pond after mowing or, if you fertilize your lawn, by leaving an unfertilized buffer of at least 50 feet around the pond.
03
Breathe in the Air
The single best step to promote the health of a pond is to add an aeration system. These systems add oxygen to the water, which speeds up plant decomposition while also keeping oxygen levels high enough to sustain fish. There are many types of aeration systems available on the market today but not all can be used through the winter. A diffused aeration system (also known as bubblers) will keep ice from forming in the areas of the pond where the diffusing heads are circulating the water.
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Additionally, only if it is safe to do so, snow can be shoveled off your pond to allow sunlight to penetrate. By removing 25-50 percent of the snow you should allow enough sunlight in to permit sufficient photosynthesis to occur, which should sustain oxygen levels under the ice. (See graphic)
