Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pond water level decline in North Texas

I thought if I posted some pictures of the drastic decline in the water level of my pond, then others that have less water loss will feel better about their situation. I am pumping water @ 10GPM from a well that is 900ft away through a 1 1/2" pipe & firehose. I threw a little fish food in the other day and some fish are feeding so I know they are not all dead. I know it is futile, but adding the water makes me feel better. FYI, full pool is about 5 acres, but the pond now is about 1 acre.

Boy that's a real bummer, I hope hurricane Hilary makes a right turn and gives you guys a good soaking.

wow david, i am dern near speechless, those are powerful photos. i share the pain, i have suffered severe drawdowns every dry season in my pond, but not the magnitude of yours. your water quality appears to remain in good shape, good luck...

holy crap; sorry for your loss

I don't feel so bad now after seeing those pictures. I've only dropped 40" since this Spring.

We are holding out hope for rain but the forecast is same story, different day. Today, they said the La Nina weather pattern, which gave us this drought is going to continue through the winter ....

David,

So sorry to see you are going through exactly what we are. It is just heartbreaking. Our pond is about 12 years old, 13 feet deep and 5 acres. Now, down to almost nothing, maybe 1 acre and 5 foot deep. We DO have an aeration system going though and I know that has kept our fish alive. We have some largemouth bass that are close to 10 lbs, still kickin. Gosh, days like today are really depressing, way too hot for comfort and not a drop of rain in sight. The hubby and I were talking tonight, what if we start seeing the big bass that we see everyday start to show real signs of stress? Do we try to get them out and take them to a big lake somewhere or just watch them die? I would post a picture, but can't figure out how to do it from my ipad. Anyway let's all pray for rain in North East Texas, please.

I think a lot of us will get the opportunity to restock before this is over.

David, what is the gpm of the well?

That is sad indeed. Here in Arkansas we are not quite as bad but we are low as well. I have seen it lower though. I would say I am about 2 feet low right now. Nothing compared to your situation though. Man that sure looks bad. The one pic with the dock and the boat on the ground says it all!! Sorry man hope you guys get rain soon!!!

I think I may have figured out how to post a picture! If it turns out, this is the new dock we've been able to build in a part of the pond that usually is about 6 feet deep. To the left is where the rest of the pond usually is, all the way back as far as you can see.


Almost dry pond by Roxannek1, on Flickr

Here's the same pond looking across to the trees on the other side in October 2009.


Pond 2009 by Roxannek1, on Flickr

Dang!


On a brighter note, now would be a good time to add more structure, rock, or gravel in places before it fills back up.

Yeah if ever there was a time to do work on your pond folks in Texas should be doing it! That before and after pic tells the tale for sure!

I'm headed home right now to continue digging. I have about 1/2 of my 1 acre pond cleaned out to original bottom thus far.1/4 acre has about 18 inches of water and the fish are still feeding but it's still dropping fast. DD1 the fish fry is not far away unless something drastic happens.

They just might fry in the water.

Interesting things show up at low water. I recently found an old wooden wagon wheel piece near my dam. Since this was an old stream bed, it's fun to imagine the happenings that got it there.

Anybody else find artifacts? Arrowheads and fossils, no doubt.

I found my remote control Helicopter stuck in a crack of muck yesterday. It crashed and burned into the pond last Christmas morning on it's maiden flight. Looks likes one of my Bass mistaked it for their favorite fish lure cause it had a bite mark and paint chipped. It was way across from were it went down.

We find out farm implement pieces and sometimes pertified wood.

Those RC helo's aren't cheap!

Yep, I recently found my Grandsons rubber alligator that he lost about 10 years ago.

I think that might make my heart speed up.

Accuweather is predicting 7+” of rain starting next weekend (Central TX- Evant area)…. So maybe there is hope…

Hope you get it Full Circle. They had rained predict for us next weekend but like every other rain chance it has disappeared. This drought is causing us to drop 40 degrees a day and its not even winter yet.

I know you’re right. I’ve seen a few of these predictions come and go, too…. 'Hope it gets better for you.

When our pond was real low during the past drought I found a complete fishing set up, pole and reel complete with line and lure attached partially buried in the mud. Other than that we found a few beer bottles. JWHAP wanted to sift through the mud in hopes of finding gold.