Thanks for more ideas. I visited the ponds again and added some rock to the pond being set up for BG. The pond has some structure in it already, including some stumps and floating/partially submerged logs. The pond inflow drops water on to rocks to help oxygenate the pond. I added some rocky areas to the bottom. I was hoping to create a greater diversity, as the bottom is mainly clay and although there is a healthy population of insects, there is no cover growing in the deeper areas of the pond. As the springtime warms up, water lily and pickerelweed will provide some cover.

Our intention is to bring in some native hornwort and create pockets of it on the bottom so as to create more cover. Our local nurseries carry native submerged pond plants.

My friend ordered 100 BG from Zett's, 1-2" stock and with much discussion we will only plant them in 1 of the 1/4 acre ponds. They should be there in 2 weeks!!

The second 1/4 acre pond, located in a more wooded area will be left to experiment with some local cutthroat or rainbow trout. It will likely stay cooler due to tree cover.

We will definitely bring in some sculpin and try to create some rocky zones for them in the trout pond.

One thing we observe though, is that we are getting some kind of FA developing in parts of both ponds. I know that this does provide food and cover for small inverts, as well as tadpoles. But I was wonder, preemptively, how we should limit its growth if it starts to get more extensive?

Chemicals are out of the question, and grass carp are prohibited in this state. Any ideas?