Russ - As of today I do not know of a good reference which correlates secchi disk with specific pond productivities. My textbook references only deal with generalities. This is probably because there are several reasons for a reduced secchi disk reading besides the influence of plankton. Thus it is hard to consistantly and accurately predict producivity due to secchi values alone. Secchi readings are just ONE way to generalize the relative productivity. If one has consistantly high secchi values the producivity is likely to be low and fish biomass low compared to one with reduced secchi readings providing both water bodies are relatively similar.

I am starting to collect some information on this topic but it is in the beginning stages. North American Lake Management Soc has secchi disk readers participating throughout N.America.

Minimum secchi disk reading is just the lowest value among a series of readings obtained from a pond.

Norm brings up a very, very important point. Trying to get cooperation for control of fish harvest or monitoring the annual harvest from a few unwilling fishermen could be very difficult,if not an impossible task.

aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management