Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations water level dropping - new pond

Hi all,

We dug a pond in our woods this winter (55x57x24 6-7 feet deep). It filled with rain and water run off within 2 months. We put in an aerator, added some water hyacinth, and stocked it with fish this spring. Over the summer, the water levels have been dropping dramatically. We had a good 3 weeks with minimal rain, but last week lots of rainfall but water level still not where it needs to be.

So, here are my questions. 1) do I plant cat tails around the edge to mask the water level drops. 2) can I use a liquid solar product to help reduce evaporation? You can use these in pools but not sure about ponds.

The plants and fish are doing well but the pond is an eye sore.

Any thoughts, recommendations?

KShimpi

New ponds take time for water to get into the surrounding soil. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have a leak. And, summer means evaporation.

I would pass on the cat tails. They can turn into a problem.

Did you line the pond with anything? Clay etc

No liner. Funny, we got a lot of rain last night and it is back to being totally full. Literally at least 12 inches filled over night. I am guessing we did not get a lot of water from last week's rains b/c the run off went into the super dry ground/grass/plants and tress instead of the pond. Just did not expect that much of a change in water level.

Another question. We live in NC and the soil is yellow clay. At first the water was yellow brown. (I think I even posted a pic of our water here back in the winter). After a month or so, the water turned to the greenish pond color. And then what did I do? Add an aerator and fish which pushed all the settled water from the bottom and made it all yellow dirt colored again. Fingers crossed the remaining heavy rains we are supposed to get this week will again push the dirt back to the bottom.

KShimpi