Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction New to forum and ponds...Where to start???

First let me say, Hello! to everyone. I look forward to learn from the folks here. So, we area about 2 weeks from closing on what my wife and I call our retirement home and lucky me, it comes with a pond. Now I have an excuse for buying all of the water toys I have purchased over the years.

Here are something that I wanted to ask:

1) Determining Pond size: What is the best way to get an accurate pond measurement? I have done a bit of research, but now I am looking for best practices. (key here I guess is accuracy)

2) Dam: How to evaluate for current conditions and potential issues?

3) Overall Pond condition: (What to look for?)

4) Evaluating fish stock: (That's easy, "lets go fishing!")
(What to look for, for evaluating health and productivity)

1) go here
http://acme.com/planimeter/

2)Take pics and throw them up here to see what the guys might spot.

3)

4) Relative weight charts

Buy a minnow trap and see what you get as far s small fish. Take photos and post here. Fish a lot, and compare those fish to what the charts say.


And welcome to the forum. There is a lot to learn, so prepared!!!

3) Soil and water testing.

2) How old is it? If it has a metal pipe going thru the dam, and it looks old/older, look for a plumber that has a camera on a cable. Have him inspect the pipe for signs of rusting thru. Trees on the dam shouldn't be there. Ones that are more than 4" dia need to go, if larger ones are present, keep your fingers crossed that they stay alive. Dead roots decay and water might follow in their path.

3) Measure how much muck is in the pond. Take a pole and attach a 5 gal bucket lid to it. Push it down as far as you can, mark the pole. Remove said lid, repeat. The difference is the depth of the muck.