Testing the nitrate and phosphate will tell how much is available. Quick reclearing of the water after a bloom starts indicates a quick loss of nutrients or carbonates(lime) either through absorption &/or loss due to water exchange. Lack of phosphate often stimulates FA and not phytoplankton. FA grows on the bottom and gets often gets a lot of its nutrients from the recycling & decompostion of muck materials. Determining the cause of a lack of a bloom in your situation will take some wise troubleshooting.
The FA areas on your picture do not look extreme. Some FA is beneficial. If it does not cover all the pond I would not be too concerned about it at this point. I would do all my angling from a boat or float tube, fish the edges. However you are correct presence of FA stifles development of a bloom. If it were mine I would focus on using pellet feeding to grow the fishery. However and I repeat, when you grow lots more fish pounds per acre are you prepared to properly harvest enough fish to keep the fishery goal balanced? In 5 acres this is not a 1 or 2 man easy job. With clear water you will need to improve your finesse angling skills and maybe chance the times that you fish to lower light conditions.
Beneficial initial plants to consider are various marginal plant species, bullrush, water lilies, american pond weed. Adding lots of underwater structure will provide substrates for growth of periphyton as mentioned by JW. Consider adding lots of broken concrete from demolition - construction projects which could help fill in some of the shoreline areas and provide structure and habitat.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 08/29/17 04:50 PM.
