Pond and Lake Management Workshop slides presented by Katie Pekarek, Nebraska Extension; Jeff Blaser, Nebraska Game and Parks; and Mike Archer, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. Presented to the public at large during 4 meetings throughout Nebraska
7. Seepage
Lake
Natural Lake
Water Source
Groundwater
Precipitation
Limited Runoff
No Stream
Outlet/Inlet
http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/index.php/the-science-of-
lakes/21-lake-types
8. Natural Lake
Water Source
Groundwater
Precipitation
Limited Runoff
Has Stream
Outlet
http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/index.php/the-science-of-lakes/21-lake-types
Groundwater
Drainage
Lake
9. Drainage
Lake
Natural Lake
Water Source
Streams
Groundwater
Precipitation
Runoff
Has Stream
Outlet
http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/index.php/the-science-of-lakes/21-lake-types
10. o Manmade
o Created by damming
a stream
o Water Source
o Streams
o Groundwater
o Precipitation
o Runoff
o Has Stream Outlet http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/index.php/the-science-of-lakes/21-lake-types
Impoundment
12. Sandpit Lakes
Manmade
Water Source
Predominantly
Groundwater
Minimal Runoff
Nearby rivers or
streams
13. Pond / Lake Classifications
Backyard or Ornamental Pond
Measured in gallons
Less than 1/8th
acre
Ponds
Less than 15 acres (natural or man made)
Lakes
Greater than 15 acres and natural
Reservoirs
Greater than 15 acres and manmade
17. Pond Measurements
Careful estimates of pond area and volume
are critical measurements for management
of aquatic plants and algae.
Area
Transects
GPS units
Google Earth
Volume – Area X depth = acre feet
25. Desirable Aquatic Plant
Communities
Vegetation dominated by native species
A diverse mix of species present
Plants with moderate density that allows access to
invertebrates, forage fish
28. POND CONSTRUCTION
Dugout
excavating a pit in wet area – not in a
wetland
Embankment
building a dam to impound runoff water
Many potential problems avoided with
proper considerations
29. POND CONSTRUCTION (cont.)
Size of Watershed
minimum watershed ratio of 20:1 in SE Nebr.
1 surface acre, avg. depth 5’ = 100 acre watershed
Avoid large watersheds or ratios – major flooding issues
Minimum 30 acre watershed
Topography
smallest dam, volume of soil, and adequate
deep and shallow water areas
30. Land Use
quality of fish community = quality of watershed
Water Source
compensate for evaporation and seepage
Avoid streams and major watersheds
Well
calculate the need (about 325,000 gal/ac-ft)
Soil Type
Clay, loams, sandy clay/loans the best – soil
profile (NRCS)
Dam
Impervious, moist soil compacted in layers
Cutoff or clay core trench
POND CONSTRUCTION (cont.)
31. POND CONSTRUCTION (cont.)
Pond Size
1 to 5 acres ideal
Pond Depth and Slopes
25% at least 10 feet 50% at least 8 feet 25%
less < 5 feet
3:1 Slope to 5 feet depth with bench areas
Adequate depth to prevent excessive aquatic
vegetation
Pond Bottom Design (page 14)
Irregular shoreline and depths
More habitat (40%) means more fish and fishing
opportunities
32. POND CONSTRUCTION (cont.)
Water Control Structures (page 16)
Outlet structure or at least a trickle tube
Emergency spillway
Livestock watering (page 23)
Vegetation Establishment
Seed dam, spillway, waterways, other disturbed areas
ASAP
Establish cover crop on pond basin
Aquatic Plants
Natural and Artificial Habitat (page 39 and handout)
Prior to filling or periodically
34. Pond Stocking
Pond Stocking
Recommended Stocking Combination (page 26)
Largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish – keep it
simple
Supplemental catfish stockings
Other species
Stocking Rates Recommendations (page 34)
Stocking Policy - Application for Fish - List of
Hatcheries (2 handouts)
Other sources of fish
35. FISH MANAGEMENT
Abundance of predators and prey (page 48)
Good, Balanced Pond
250 pounds of bluegill per surface acre
50 pounds of largemouth bass per surface acre
About 50% between 8 and 12 inches
About 50% larger than 12 inches
40 pounds of channel catfish per surface acre
Decide what to manage for (general or big bass or big
bluegill)
Assess fish populations (angling page 52)
Choose management option, PWMA ( page 54)
If unable to catch fish or need advice, consult NGPC
(magazine)
37. Aquatic Vegetation
Important Component of Aquatic Environment
Provides food, nesting, nursery, cover
Oxygenates water
Stabilizes shoreline and bottom sediment
Four Major Types of Aquatic Plants
Algae, floating, submersed, and emergent (Page 62,
handout)
Can be a problem (over 50% pond surface affected)
Fishing becomes difficult
Upsets balance between bass and bluegill
Excessive plant die-off's affect dissolved oxygen
End of growing season
Cloudy weather/muddy water decreases sunlight
Decomposition depletes oxygen – fish kills
38. Aquatic Vegetation (cont.)
Preventive Measures
Adequate water depth
Land use practices, buffer strips, restrict livestock
access/waste
Reduces excessive nutrients in water and sediment
Use fertilizers with no or low phosphorus (lessen algae
blooms)
Control Measures
Physical or mechanical removal
Discard plants away from pond (also fragments)
Removal reduces associated nutrients
39. Aquatic Vegetation (cont.)
Chemical Control
Spot treatment (shoreline areas, create fishing/boating lanes)
If large area, only do 1/3 to 1/4, wait 2 weeks
Fish die-off if too much killed (oxygen depletion)
Many are restricted use – certification required
Read and follow directions on label, treat before excessive
Biological Control (grass carp)
Not a cure all – prefer certain plants, inefficient, long lived
Limited control of algae, duckweed, coontail, pond lily, milfoil
Overstocked, eliminate beneficial plants, algae blooms result
Aeration
Oxygenates deep areas, prevents upwelling of phosphorus
Can reduce algae blooms and prevent fish kills resulting from
excessive vegetation die-offs (natural and man made)
41. Permits
Check with local NRCS about:
the site being in a wetland,
the need of a water storage permit (>15 acre feet
of water)
the site in part of state where pond construction
may be restricted
the possibility of Threatened or Endangered
species present
the possibility of construction cost share,
conducting a soil profile and
determining if water source will be sufficient
42. Permits (cont.)
Check with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about a 404
permit for
addition of fish structure
Check with NGPC about:
the need of a fishing permit at the site
acquiring a PWMA if decide to remove bass < 15
inches
Go to NGPC website to access NPM book and
Pond Guide Series
46. Water Clarity
• Sediment
• Internal
• Bank sloughing
• Lack of depth
• Rough Fish
• External
• Runoff carrying sediments
47. Water Clarity
• Water Clarity
• Settling Basin – Small detention cell
• Depth – Mechanical dredge
• Shoreline Erosion
• Rip-rap
• Vegetation
• Seawall
• Reconstruct bank slope to
(2-1) – (3-1)
CONTACT NDEQ AND USACE BEFORE DOING
ANY OF THE ABOVE!!
48. Bacteria
• Escherichia coli (E. coli)
• Sources
• Waste products of any warm-blooded animal
• Septic systems
• Waterfowl
• Livestock waste runoff
• Health Concerns
• Gastroenteritis
• Dysentery
• Hepatitis
• Cholera
• Typhoid Fever
50. Contaminants
Pesticides
• Atrazine
• Most commonly detected pesticide contaminating
drinking water
• Aatrex, Alazine, Primatol
• Endocrine Disruptor
• Preterm pregnancy
• Sexual development
• Acetochlor
• Replacement for Atrazine
• Acenit, Guardian, Harness, Surpass
• Development disruption of fish and
amphibians
• Metolachlor
• Becoming much less common
• Bicep, Dual, Pennant, Pimagram
• Moderately toxic to fish
51. Contaminants
Metals
• Lead
• Lead shot
• Fishing weights
• Industrial waste
• Naturally occurring
• Mercury
• Coal fired power plants
• Health effects (Methylmercury)
• Deteriorates central nervous system
• Impairs hearing, speech, vision and gate
• Bioaccumulation
• Aluminum
• Common treatment for eutrophic lakes
• Possible health concerns with elevated levels of Al.
• Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, Alzheimer's
• Mobilization of Al due to low pH can become toxic to fish
58. Aquatic Vegetation
Invasive/Noxious
• State Noxious Weeds
• Saltcedar
• Phragmites
• Purple Loosestrife
• Invasive in Nebraska Status
Unknown
• Parrot Feather
• Hydrilla
• Water Hyacinth
59. Aquatic Vegetation
Control
• Physical or Mechanical Removal
• Chemical Control
• Restricted Use Pesticides
• Applied by a licensed
applicator
• Bank Slope
• 2:1 – 3:1
www.illinoiswildflowers.info
www.lakerestoration.
com
62. Aquatic Vegetation
Algae
• Health Effects
• Microcystin
• Humans
• Liver Damage
• Skin irritant
• Pets and Livestock
• Ingestion is likely fatal
• BMAA & DBAA
• Suspected Effects
• ALS
• Parkinson's Disease
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Nervous System
• Anatoxin – a
• Suspected Effects
• Nervous System
63. Algae
Aquatic Vegetation
Algae
• Prevention
• Reduce the amount of nutrients entering the
lake
• No phosphorus fertilizer
• Eliminate waterfowl
• Harass do not harm
• Check with USFWS, UNL extension,
NGPC
• Eliminate livestock access and any
associated runoff
• Pick up pet waste
• Construct berms and natural grass barriers
• Wetland - treatment at inlet to the lake
• Inspect septic system
64. Aquatic Vegetation
Algae
• Aquatic Herbicides
• Use sparingly!!
• Treat 1/4 to 1/3 of the problem at a time
• Restricted Use Herbicide application needs to
be conducted by a licensed applicator.
• Alum Treatment
• Application of Alum will violate Nebraska
Water Quality Standards.
• All Alum applications require a variance before
application.
• Contact NDEQ very early on in the process.
• Lake Sediment Dredging
65. Nuisance Animals
Beaver
Burrowing near lake’s dam can weaken structure
Trees and branches can damage and/or plug drainpipes
Trapping is the most effective means of controlling beaver
populations
66. Muskrat
Tunneling in dam can cause the bank structure to leak and/or
fail
Wire screen along dam
Trapping
Nuisance Animals
68. Developing a Water Quality
Monitoring Plan
• Do you need to a monitoring plan?
• Full body contact recreation
• Fish Kills
• Excessive Algal Growth
• Pets, livestock, etc. using the pond
• Katie Pekarek (402) 560-3110
• Jeff Blaser (402) 471-5435
• Mike Archer (402) 471-4224
69. Developing a Water Quality
Monitoring Plan• Monitor monthly
• Water Temp.
• Dissolved Oxygen
• pH
• Water Clarity
• Chlorophyll a
• Total Phosphorus & Soluble Reactive Phosphorus
• Total Nitrogen & Ammonia
• Atrazine
• Mercury
• Lead
• Aluminum
• Sample when concern arises
• Microcystin
• E.coli
