Certainly, this is a contentious topic. I appreciate the fact that we are able to discuss it intelligently and calmly, but this being PondBoss, we don't like to consider anything that may negatively impact our ponds, or our fish. I feel the same way, as I'm sure everyone here does also. Possibly, there are those who have been reading this thread just hoping that it goes away...quickly. I understand, and in fact there's not much to debate. It is, after all, legal to pump water into one's pond. That's the bottom line...what happens from here on out should be decided individually, based on conscience.
I would like to expand on something I said earlier, however. I mentioned the elderly couple across the road, with the shallow well. These folks have little in the way of resources. Drilling deeper to obtain the water is out of the question. Their well is hand dug, and income is non-existent for them. I wish I could bring the PB community here, to see how these folks live. It will never mean anything unless you can see it. I mentioned in a recent thread about the manner in which some members of my extended family survive. Throwing money at a troubling problem is not an option, and it never will be.
TJ referred to his pond/fish as an investment. I couldn't agree more, having such an investment myself. But like any investment, it carries risks. The lengths one is prepared to go to, to mitigate such risks is a personal choice. If my livelihood depended on my fish, then certainly I might reconsider my position. But as it stands now, my fish are a recreational investment...and I'm not willing to risk impacting my neighbors livelihood. I'm sure that the circumstances are different from place-to-place, which is why I believe that everyone should decide for him/herself.
