Bob, Thank you for your response!
The shelf is in the close end of the pond and was left there when the contractor was digging. It is bedrock more than shale and there seems to be plenty of water coming in and none leaving the pond at this point. I measure the rise every few days and it has not lost any water and is gaining about 1/2-3 inches per day depending on the weather. Time will tell whether the trend will reverse itself. RES are in the Fingerlakes and I did not know that they were illegal to stock in NYS. I can and will get fed SMB, we raise them each year at the school where I teach in the Conservation Science class. They are the ones raising my perch.I am willing to stock more fatheads every few years, and I will add more habitat if need to help them survive. I was going to go with bass or walleye but can I mix them, and will they both thrive? Should I add any water plants or let that happen on its own? What am I not thinking of?
Thanks Again!
Scott