Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Planting Problem

I hunt ducks in a natural pond that is next to a river. I have no control over the source of the water and in fact I can't even figure out where the water come in from. I have found the spot where it exits and I have sand bagged that in order to keep the pond level up since it really drops in the winter. The pond averages between 2-18" in depth. It has a muddy bottom with Salt Cedars and tules growing on the edges. That is the only growth. It is in the Salton Sea area in So Cal. I am told the water is high in alkali content. My questions are what can I broadcast into standing water as described that ducks will like? And where is the water from the river coming in from. I can't find an obvious entry point. By the way the pond gets very high in the spring and summer.

If you could lower or rise higher than normal you can plant tons of preferred duck food. ALso if you could clear the pond with it being that shallow it would grow some type of native vegetation. At least have ducks, just went hunting this morning with no luck.

I did better than you did, Greg. Got a comorant and two blue herons. Wifey would have nothing to do with the comorant but cooked up the herons. Flavor was kind of like spotted owl with undertones of ivory-billed woodpecker. Can that girl cook! Coyote, cabbage and black-eyed peas tomorrow - our traditional fare.
A happy and very prosperous New Year to all. I sincerely hope that the end of 04 finds your ponds exactly as you had planned for them to be.

Augnmike,
Careful, careful.
Salt cedars grow in salty soils. High alkali sends up red flags. If no other plants grow, there's a natural reason, and you can plant seeds until your billfold goes flat, with little hope of results.
Contact local seed companies, ask for help.
You will likely find a narrow list of plant candidates.
This pond sounds like it's ancient, and if no other plants grow naturally, the likelihood of your changing it is low.
Also, if you are hunting public land, there are laws regulating what you can plant and what you can't.