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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 35
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OP
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 35 |
My 1.5 acre pond was constructed and filled up last fall. I have pretty steep banks, mostly surrounded by woods but still a lot of sun exposure in NE Tx. Fed by a creek that has a spring and gets a lot of run off. Has been stained to muddy with all the rain we have had. Stocked with bluegill and LMB. I have been expecting wild aquatic vegetation to grow spontaneously but I don't see any yet and would presume I would by now, water temps in low 70s. Clay lined pond, I have put lots of limestone in to raise alkalinity. I figure I desparately need vegetation to grow for dense cover for baitfish and to bring oxygen and water clarity to the water. Do I wait longer for wild vegetation to grow or plant something? If I plant, what should I plant, where do I plant it, and where do I purchase it?
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 249
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 249 |
Sorry, I don't have any helpful input. Guys with new ponds worry about everything. I did too. In a couple years you won't be worried about this, you'll probably be researching weed removal. It's kind of a rite of passage, it seems. Enjoy the ride!
Pond Boss subscriber
Would those that say "it can't be done" please refrain from interrupting those that are doing it...
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,897 Likes: 146
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,897 Likes: 146 |
sample your pond. Put out some minnow nets, crayfish nets, shrimp nets, different styles (metal mesh, or nylon mesh etc) see what is in your pond. In my pond the vegetation doesn't have a chance due to the crayfish activity. Put some old meat scraps, or the fat you trim off the chicken breast before cooking, or any unwanted fish carcase after filleting in the trap for bait and you will know soon if you have a lot of wanted or unwanted crayfish.
The crayfish may be eating some the vegetation directly, but I think the major issue is that they stir up the bottom and keep visibility down to 12-18" only and thus vegetation never sees the sun.
With enough LMB to control their numbers there may not be very many crayfish unless there is rip rap or cover for them. You said the stream feeds it so there may be a new supply of crayfish coming in and leaving again to the protected areas in the stream? Also it may be the LMB can't see the crayfish in the stained water?
Last edited by canyoncreek; 04/26/16 02:50 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
My pond was dug fall of 2013 and IME it takes time for the vegetation to show up naturally. For me, the first "vegetation" was FA. My thought is the natural vegetation is introduced via waterfowl, other critters, wind, etc. overtime. FWIW I'm taking the approach of trying to start "good" vegetation before possible unwanted vegetation has a chance to be established by Ma Nature. The only plant I've seen so far that Ma brought into our pond appears to be one American Pondweed plant which I'm ok with.
Last edited by Bill D.; 04/26/16 06:29 PM. Reason: After thought
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298 |
Pondwish, I too have a new pond with little vegetation. But that's mainly because it has been murky until just the last few weeks. Today I could see 24 inches deep easily, and noted my very first water plant: FA. But it wasn't really that much, and I'll bet it doesn't get out of hand. Now that sunlight can reach bottom, I hope to plant some American pondweed. By the way, the twelve button bush we planted right on the shoreline are doing well.
Last edited by anthropic; 04/26/16 09:20 PM.
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 368
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 368 |
I built my old pond over 9 yr ago, and it still has no vegetation, so I don't know if I'd bank on vegetation appearing naturally. It has no crayfish.
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