Russ - Glad to hear you were able to get snow off the ice. Cloudy ice 7-8" thick is allowing about 20%-30% of the light to pass thru. Still enough light transmission for photosynthesis.
Was the water clear that you fished in?
If so light was able to penetreate into the water fairly deep. With this much ice and more forming daily with this cold wave; it will be important to not let snow cover lay very long on the ice. Sooner you can get it off the better oxygen levels will be in the pond.
As Cecil said above, as long as you can catch fish near the bottom, deep water conditions are healthy.
