Got my courage worked up to mow the back of the dam. Waited until it was bone dry. Like no rain for 2 months. Ha!
I am a little nervous on the tractor on the back of that dam. It’s a lot steeper than it looks. We pushed right up on the property line, so they made it pretty steep.
Following advice I received here, I backed the brush hog down the dam and worked my way across without getting sideways. Way better than a weed eater and poison ivy! Didn’t get it all, but close enough for government work, as my father in law used to say. [Linked Image from hosting.photobucket.com]

12 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep.
RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (decreasing), SMB, and HSB (only two have been seen in 5 yrs)
I think that's about all I should put in my little pond.
Otter attack in 2023.