Common Pond & Lake Problems

• Excessive Weeds
• Fish Kills
• Small Fish / Poor Fishing
• Leaks
• Muddy Water
• Excessive Nutrients

Problem 1: Excessive Vegetation and Algae

Typical Reasons:

• Water Depth
• Water Clarity
• Excessive Nutrients

Management:

• Proper Lake Design - Minimize shallow water (0-4Ft.)
• Proper Lake Design - Minimize sediment and nutrients flowing to the lake
• Herbicide/Algaecide Treatments 1-2 times per year properly timed
• Grass Carp
• Tilapia (for filamentous algae control)
• Aquatic Dye (not right for every lake, depends on lake goals)
• Pond and Lake Aeration

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Problem 2: Fish Kills

Typical Reasons:

• Read More on Fish Kills
• Seasonal Turnover Typically Fall Turnover in the South
• Lack of Oxygen and Oxygen Swings
• Overpopulated Fish Population
• Excessive Algae and Weeds
• Fish Disease (rare)

Management:

• Manage Excessive Vegetation and Algae - Reduces oxygen swings
• Pond and Lake Aeration
• Proper Lake Design - During construction make Lake as deep as site allows, this is insurance against evaporation, which is about 5.5 Feet per year in central texas

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Problem 3: Stunted Fish / Poor Fishing

Typical Reasons:

• Under-harvest of fish
• Excessive Vegetation or Algae
• Improper Stocking Ratio
• Lack of Forage
• Excessive Amounts of Rough Fish

Management:

• Fishery Survey - At least every 2-Years (electrofishing, shoreline seining, gill netting)
• Harvest Fish (Need fishery survey to determine size group and approximately how many to harvest)
• Control Excessive Vegetation and Algae
• Supplemental Forage fish stocking
• Supplemental Fish Feeding

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Problem 4: Leaks

Typical Reasons:

• Improper Construction Techniques, Most Leaks Associated with the Dam
• Structural Leaks Around Dam Hardware or Large Trees
• Improper Construction Techniques- not enough or improper compaction of water-holding clay layer

Management and Prevention:

• Leaks are usually associated with improper planning or deficient construction methods or a combination of both, read more here: Lake Construction Planning, Lake Construction Management, & Lake Construction Consulting
• Interview Contractors
• Maintain Dams
• Familiarize Yourself with Proper Lake Construction Methods
• Sealants or Liners May be Considered

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Problem 5: Muddy Water (excessive turbidity)

Typical Reasons:

• Poor Management of Upstream Watershed
• Lack of Aquatic Vegetation
• Large populations of rough fish like Carp, Bullhead, and Bowfin
• Wind
• Suspended Clay Particles

Management:

• Coagulant Treatment – Usually gypsum or alum
• Proper Lake Design - Watershed management focusing on erosion
• Eradicate Rough Fish With rotenone application, perform Fishery Survey to see if present
• Promote Vegetation if Needed
• Proper Lake Design - Orient long axis of pond (Fetch) east-west, wind breaks, islands to breakup fetch

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Problem 6: Excessive Nutrients

Typical Reasons:

• Poor Management of Upstream Watershed (Overgrazing, No Erosion Control, Lack of Bufferstrips)
• Overfeeding
• Fertilizer from Ag./Yards
• Livestock Watering in Lake

Management:

• Proper Lake Design - Watershed management focusing on erosion
• Buffer Strips
• Pond and Lake Aeration
• Fence Off Livestock (water livestock below dam)
• Coagulant Treatment - To bind phosphorous in water column and sediment

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