Nice post doc.
Mainehero, we have only had water in our new pond for 8-9 months. My boys (who whould have been yellow labs if they were dogs) have been in the water since the first rain after its completion. Granted, it is new water and the eaters/poopers only got put in two months ago, but we have not had any ear problems. Our only problem is washing all the mud off of them before they get in the truck. Not to go too anti-scientific, but humans have been swimming in ponds for thousands of years and have developed millions of happy memories in doing so. Since your water has been there for a while and you don't know what went into it before you, get your extension agent or state wildlife biologist to do a check in the lab and once your water gets a clean bill of health, build a rope swing so you and yours can start building good memories. I am with the doc, I ain't swimming with bovines.
