James thanks for the compliment.
Eutrophication rate is pretty much determined / controlled by phosphorus input, not so much by nitrates, although both contribute. Be concerned more about phosphorus inputs and its recycling. IMO phytoplankton communities and their density signify eutrophication more than the submerged rooted weeds. Submerged rooted weeds compete with plankton blooms and tend to minimize them. Submerged weeds grow better in shallower water esp if it is clear. Silt removal and deepening the shallows are beneficial. Pond problems almost always occur in shallow water. Bottom aeration helps minimize eutrophication by reducing internal nutrient recycling. Sometimes aeration is not possible, feasable, or economical.
Weeds can be managed various ways to not let them develop a total community greater than 20%-30% using manual, chemical and grass carp or combinations there of.
Depending on the vegetation introducing different less invasive beneficial plant species provides competition to existing probmematic weeds, improves habitat diversity and improves overall habitat.
One thing I did not mention above about the CC is that if CC have not been recently supplimentally stocked, they are probably reproducing since you are catching some smaller individuals (1.5lb).
esshup asks ""what size WE should be stocked"". James mentions that he plans to stock 6"-8"ers. Without bass this stocker is very adequate for his initial and subsequent WE stockings. YOY WE of 6"-8" in the presence of 20-30% weed cover should have high survival rates with just pellet eating CC present as predators. Later when the pond has adult WE then there will be some losses of YOY stocked at 6"-8" WE to predation, but I don't think losses in the presence of weed cover will be higher than 10% maybe 20% depending on how many adult WE are present,their sizes and how much available other forage types are present.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 08/07/11 02:39 PM.
