Limit the duck numbers by trapping and moving.
(Out of the question, residents love the ducks, untouchable. I already suggested that)
Track hoe some of the muck out to create a sink in the pond.
(Out of the question, already suggested that and more. Cost and disturbing the park like setting. I suggested a complete muck out when drained.)
Do the upstream bog.
(Yes, an inlet bog. However vegetative might not work as semi domestic mallards have eaten everything I put in, lilies, hyacinth, horsetail rush, zebra rush, spike rush, pickerel, fiber optic, day lilies, dwarf papyrus, graceful and mini cattails. I am going gravel, with full recirc field from outlet end of pond under gravel, and trying toughest plants I know, bulrush and full size cattails. At least suggesting that.)
Plant some plants and cage them with chicken wire.
(Shot down from looks point of view. I suggested lilies caged, perception, ugly, to be honest I have to agree.)
How is water chemistry?
(Not bad, of course massive nutrients, but otherwise fairly neutral. A lot of replenishment from city main.)
Aeration.
(Going to consult huge aeration add. Most likely double if not triple diffuser stations, and a seperate fountain.)
Can you use tilapia ?
(In California? That's funny.)
Limit yard fertilizer if possible.
(Tell residents who pay big money to have thier own place and the greenest grass? Not possible.)
Try to get a massive FA bloom and remove it to reduce/use up nutrients.
(Don't have to try, that is constant in the Summer. Just did a gallon of Aquashade just to turn the algae pea soup pond blue.) Band Aid on an amputation.
Current consultation, inlet bog, walled off, at least 12" deep, recirc from outlet deep end to distribution plenum drilled out 1/4 inch holes 45 degrees facing downward, over commercial landscape fabric, under 3/8 pea gravel. Try toughest filtering plants I know in there, cattails and bulrushes. I consulted my duck expert forum member Duckdude. Expert biologist, he said, converted mallards are flying swine, will eat everything. Can't cover an area that large. If they eat those I will still have gravel for bacteria.
Introduce many month treatment of beneficial bacteria, multi strain sludge buster, especially in the inlet gravel bog. Should work in three to four ways. Eat up nutrients rising from muck on deep end recircing. Pull in nutrients coming from fertilizer street runoff, and now I think I have a sewer pipe coming in on inlet as well. Pull nutrients from all three sources and give bacteria a place to multiply and flow back into main pond from or through permeable wall.
Aerate, and recirc. Bacteria just going to settle into much and die a rapid death without oxygen and water movement, to assist with gravel medium. There are currently zero gravel beds, and zero aeration. Going double or triple diffuser station, plus fancy shmancy seperate fountain. Aeration will be as widespread as possible.
That will be the preWinter treatment and plan. Might try to establish cold temp bacteria in Winter, then preSpring dye and more bacteria. I estimate, no, I know for a fact a good 36-48 inches of muck from one end of pond to other, with photos supporting that fact.
I need to reduce constant incoming nutrients from adding to disaster. Ducks, sewer and runoff. Plus, decades of accumulation have to slowly be removed. Worst pond I have ever seen or consulted. It's had algaecide or been coppered multiple times, even though I said that was a waste of time. It was. Pretty much uphill battle from start, but I have the time and resources, so wish me luck. I can probably do more for less than half my competitors bid.
