|
|
 |
 Texas Farm Pond
If You Dig It, Will It Fill? Pond Construction Detailed
at East Texas Field Day
Pond or lake? Construction for maximum fish production was one of the
topics discussed by Bill Deauman, zone wildlife biologist with the USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at the recent
Panola/Shelby County Pond Field Day in Carthage, Texas.
A good lake site is critical, he pointed out. Yet, "it is hard to find a
good site in East Texas."
The key for a good pond or lake is the construction. "A properly
constructed pond will last a long time," Deauman stated.
To begin a lake construction project, the soil needs to be considered.
It should be high in clay content to hold water.
"People think all red soil is clay but its not," he added.
Good ponds have been built on sandy sites that have spring flow adequate
to make up for any seepage, Deauman added. Seepage through a dam is bad,
but some water loss through the basin can be acceptable.
"You need a good clay core underneath sand," the biologist said.
Some people believe the sign of a good pond is the water color. "People
think clear water is what we want. Actually we want a brown tint to
green (tint) so that when you put your hand in the water, you can't see
your fingers," the biologist stated.
The design of the dam is also important.
"Dams that are designed improperly will break. If the lake is 10-foot
(deep), then a 10-foot section will come out of dam, if the lake is
20-foot than a 20-foot section will break. There needs to be no trees or
brush on the dams."
Another guideline cited at the field day is the need for islands in
shallow ponds. Fish habitat will be more abundant around these islands
than the shores, according to Deauman.
Another way to increase fish habitat is adding brush piles. In new
ponds, leave as much timber standing as possible. Place one shelter for
every one to three acres.
"Large mouth bass are around ambush points," Deauman told the fishermen
and women at the event.
Spawning sites for the fish can be constructed by adding pea gravel or
sand to lakes with mucky, organic or clay bottoms.
"Aeration systems (fountains, surface aerators, diffusers) can also
increase fish production of a lake, in addition to be very pleasing,"
the biologist stated.
Another topic discussed at the pond field day was water quality.
Dr. Billy Higginbotham, wildlife biologist at Overton, began his
presentation by saying, "If you (don't have) good water, you (don't
have) good fish."
To check water quality, a sample is necessary to check the water's pH
levels. Most county Extension offices have testing kits to check the pH
levels.
"You want the pH to be between 6.5 and 9. Check the total alkalinity. A
pond should have at least a 20 parts/million (ppm) alkalinity reading,"
Higginbotham said.
If the pond is lower than 20 ppm, then lime is needed.
"If you need lime, use ag lime. Not hydrated or slag lime," he cited.
Liming increases the water alkalinity/pH, making available phosphorus,
which in return promotes the growth of plankton, the natural fish food
base. Liming also increases carbon dioxide available for photosynthesis
by plankton.
For muddy ponds, Higginbotham stated if the pond is small and being
managed for catfish "there is no problem. These ponds are short
circuit."
So how clear does the pond need to be?
Higginbotham stated, "Elbow clear" meaning visibility within the pond
should be from your elbow down to your fingers.
One of the main problems in ponds is oxygen depletion. Oxygen depletion
normally occurs in July or August, but Higginbotham cited he already
knows of one incident this year.
"You can't control the seasonal changes to a pond. Warmer water needs
more oxygen. Check oxygen levels first thing in the morning, just at
daybreak. The number one case of oxygen depletion is too many pounds of
fish," Higginbotham said.
In order to increase oxygen levels, Higginbotham stated, "Most people
have access to a boat with a boat motor." The running motor will move
the water, causing water to contact with the atmosphere, therefore,
picking up oxygen. More oxygen creates more food for fish, with the end
result being more fish for the pond owner. |
|
|
|
Building a farm pond
or fishing lake is not a job that can be completed successfully by an
amateur. Mistakes made during the initial farm pond or fishing
lake construction will haunt you for years to come and in our
experience, fixing these blunders is more expensive than hiring a
professional to construct your farm pond or fishing lake would have been
in the first place.
It takes a rare combination
of knowledge, experience and the proper equipment to construct the pond
or lake that will complement and add value to your property for years to
come.
Contact Nick Jones
|
