Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Removing Snow from Ice. How Much?

OK. After reading other posts about winter fish kills because of snow covered ice I have a question.

This is the first time here in southern Indiana since I built our 3/4 ac. pond behind the house that we have had a frozen pond covered with a substantial amount of snow. maybe 5" or so.

Went out and cleared some today to let the sun in. Maybe a 50' diameter or so. Question being........

Is there a certain percentage that should be cleared in order to do any good? And Second question being.......

We Also have a 10 acre pond. Should I clear it too?

Thanks. Rob.

Bill's in Florida now I think hell raising with Bob-O. Hopefully he has access to the Internet and will answer you question.

I just don't know what to tell you with a pond so large. No experience with large ponds but I have some ideas, but will wait for some more knowledgeable folks.

Dang Cecil, thanks for the heads up. That ol fart hasn't even let me know he's on his way. Probably hopein ta catch me with an old trailer trash gal.

Duration of the ice and snow cover is probably the more important consideration. Under 6 weeks of snow and ice cover, I wouldn't worry about it unless your pond's water quality was poor going in.

Keeping 20% of our 5 acre pond snow free can be a challenge but that is the goal. We can have 12-14 weeks of ice and snow cover and have't ever had a fish kill.

Watch out Bob he likes to share!

Bob-O if you would read your email you would be up-do-date with my trip plans. Email was sent to you Friday.

If some ice has snow blown off that is usually enough to keep winter kill minimized. If pond is wind sheltered the minimum snow removed for me is 10% and better 20% of the pond area snow free. Try not to let complete snow cover to lie on ice for longer than 4-6wks as Dwight suggests. The deeper the pond the less chance for winter kill because more water volume can hold a bigger DO 'bank account'. Several factors affect how fast DO is consumed under snow cover. I would say that generally the ponds that are prone to summer kill will be more likely to winter kill.

I think if one allows the DO to drop to dangerously low levels before removing snow then it will more difficult to get the DO consumption trend reversed so the fish don't die .

He also likes Kisses

We'll leave that dept to Bruce.

Thanks guys. That kind of duration here is usually not an issue. supposed to get to 40 today before another deep freeze.