I'm a new member and amazed at the amount of information on this board. Fantastic!! I put an introduction message into the new members thread. I've started up an aeration system on my pond (albeit not the best way...too fast) and my neighbor is now asking me questions that I don't feel comfortable answering due to my inexperience. I've suggested that she consider joining this great resource, but she's older and not easily convinced. Anyway, there are three small ponds in the neighborhood about 1/4 acre each. Her pond is about 35 years old, with significant surface water runoff to maintain pond level. The other primary feature of the pond is that it's heavily populated with water lilies growing out into 6'+ water depths. A couple years ago I waded into her pond to remove over 1000 pounds of the plants that a friend wished to transplant to his pond. While in the pond I noted that there was easily 6" of muck- probably more- on the pond bottom. I believe the muck is primarily material from decaying water lilies, deciduous tree leaves, and of course some material from the BG and LMB. She is aware of the muck issues and is asking if aeration is the best way to deal with the muck, or if excavation of the material may be necessary. To help with geography and weather-- we live in NE Ohio in the snowbelt. As a result we sometimes have the ponds iced over from December till late March or April. And frequently the ponds are ice-covered plus snow-covered. All three ponds had massive winter kills during the two polar vortex winters of 2014 and 2015. If aeration is recommended, could it take two, three or even more years to dissolve most of the muck build-up??? Thanks in advance for suggestions/advice. It seems that we may want to start making phone calls and inquiries in our area for some pond services/specialists that might be a good resource for answers too?? Thanks for all input in advance.