hatch rates as well as growth will be very dependent on suspended sediment, development of an entire mature ecosystem that is fertile enough to support and grow 100's of thousands of BG every season.
Snipe (and others),
What are the reasons for being "very dependent on suspended sediment"?
I have seen lots of Kansas farm ponds get very muddy after big rains, but I don't know the causes of harm.
1.) Can enough silt deposition actually smother fertilized eggs in the nest?
2.) Does the murky water prevent the fry and fingerlings from sight-feeding for extended periods?
3.) Does the murky water shut down the bottom of the food chain based on photosynthesizing organisms and that quickly has negative impacts moving up the food chain?
I know it is important to practice good erosion control and keep silt out of our ponds. However, in arid regions people sometimes need to include things like their neighbor's plowed field in the watershed to keep the pond supplied with enough water to survive the drought periods. Therefore, some crappy trade offs sometimes must occur.
