I have to ask.. What's so bad about getting leaves in the pond? Mine gets millions of leaves dumped in it every fall. Walking around in the pond, with my bare feet on the bottom, I'm not finding that much muck built up. My pond is only two years old, and I am planning on adding aeration next summer, but I still ask, what's so bad about getting leaves in the pond? Wooded lakes and ponds have been getting leaves in them forever. I think they are still healthy. Now I have to worry about this.. Not really..

9 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep.
RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (going away), SMB, and HSB (only one seen in 5 yrs) Restocked HSB (2020) Have seen one of these.
I think that's about all I should put in my little pond.
Otter attack in 2023