How much of this forest should I clear from around the pond site? Spent 2 days brush cutting just to pinpoint the pond site. With advice of NRCS it will be .3 acre and clay heavy roadbase must be hauled in. No biggie, my resources will go to aeration/fert/feed rather than so much clearing; I can hardly wait to stand on my pier with fly rod in hand! Trees are hickory, maple, oaks, .. generally hardwoods. I'm inclined to cut every tree back 75' from the dam and 60' elsewhere. Should some smaller trees be left in closer? Would you clear cut back more? I have a limited 4 ac. watershed and hard sandstone rock 18" down. What would you do? \:\)

Self-educated rednecks, the real intelligentsia.