We don't think there's anything so bad about getting a bunch of leaves in a pond in general, Setter; it's just bad for the way we want to manage this particular pond. It was dug around 30 years ago and has laid down more than a bit of muck in that time. I think the muck has taken away about a quarter of the pond's original depth (some 5 ft out of what we were told was originally 20 ft), in fact, and more importantly to us it makes wading unpleasant. And although the water is usually exceptionally clear (around 10 ft!), in the one summer that we've owned the property we did experience one very murky floating algae bloom, which makes swimming unpleasant even if one is careful getting in and out so as not to disturb the muck any more than necessary. Swimming is our main interest in the pond, so we accordingly want to minimize the nutrients that result in the muck and floating algae getting into the pond, and leaves and pine needles look to be the #1 way that nutrients are entering.
We also have a natural pond that we're fine with having muck and murky water in, whatever nature wants to do with it. (Except for the invasive exotic plants trying to creep in; those we've targeted for elimination.)
Gerry
