Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry Water quality??

I'm not really a patient researcher and my apologies if this question has been answered before. My pond is down over seven feet with the drought; not dry yet, but getting close. The low water level is giving me an excellent opportunity to clear some unwanted brush around the pond. I see a perfect basin in which to pile the debris to burn now that our state's burn ban has been lifted. My question is: if I do this, will the remaining ash somehow negatively effect the pH or some other paramater of the water quality should we get some significant rain this spring which brings the water level back up to the point it mixes with the existing water, which still supports some LMB and forage fish? Thanks for your thoughts.

rusleepy, I sure am sleepy myself *LOL* Joke aside, how far are you planning to burn your debris, and how much in volume? A rule of thumb of ash is:

1 part ash to 1 part water = 0.7pH
* Heavily depending how much had been burn, and from which mixture of plants' species and where they grow. The pH can go either toward alkalinic or acidic. However, pH doesn't drop more than 5.5 or 10.5, no matter how much ash to shove it there after.

We heavily verified three water body due to the 2003-2004 Grand Prix fires. Man, that was a nightmare. Then fire starters try to mimic that again in 2006-2007. Failed to set things heavily ablaze, but still managed to get some major damages in.

That being said, LMB can be effected slightly due to the pH. Not sure other forage fish that you have. I'm more concern about the total suspended solids and total dissolved solids. That will destroy your existing dissolved oxygen and irritate the fish gills to the point of improper oxygen absorption. That will be their death if too much ash is introduced to the water as part of the new rain run-off. Suggestion for you would be mixing the dirt with the ash on the higher banks of the pond, away from the primary drainage areas that run into the pond. The ash will encourage microbial and plants' growth within 8 months before large amount of rain wash the water into the pond.

I'm not an expert but I have a philosophy...KISS. For those of you that don't know, it means "keep it simple stupid"

My thoughts would be to burn the brush where you want and use a loader to haul out the vast majority of the ash which will drastically reduce the potential for problems. Just my two cents.

How large is the pond and how much brush are you planning on burning?

Thanks guys. After giving this a chance to roll around in the old noggin', I think the best way to avoid any problem in the first place is to just move the brush to an area on the property where the ash and stuff just won't matter. I've already got to drag it somewhere to burn and then with your idea Todd, I have to move the ash after the fact. Most important thing is keeping myself, my property, the neighbors, and their stuff safe from the impending inferno.

Sounds like you've got a plan. Keep safe and have fun! I know I enjoy a big bonfire.