Welcome Bluedog!

There are lots of wildlife habitat projects that have been performed by Pond Boss members. However, I don't recall any "toad threads".

I do recall a member that built a number of ephemeral ponds in the woodlands adjacent to his main pond. He loved all of the critters that would utilize his little ponds.

I believe(?) that little ephemeral ponds are one part of the critical habitat for Houston Toads. Are there some natural depressions in your forest near your pond? Any place where the depressions follow a slope down some elevation?

If so, I would consider digging out some of these depressions to create small ponds. In wet years, these ponds should stay mostly full for the toads. In dry years, you could pump a little water from your big pond to provide habitat. If the ponds were down a slope, you could just pump to the first pond and after it fills water would spill to the second pond, etc.

You also might consider putting some Gambusia (mosquito fish) in your main pond. You can then catch some in a minnow trap and throw a handful in your ephemeral ponds every spring so you do NOT breed mosquitos.

Is the property away from your pond mostly undifferentiated forest? That is typically not the best habitat for wildlife. Most wildlife thrives in environments with a patch quilt of different habitats. For example, if you clear a little patch of forest and establish grass and forbs in that space, there will probably be a time of year with a big hatch of insects, worms, etc. in that space at a time when there is very little food in the forest. Your toads can hop over there and get a meal, and then go back to their burrow in the moist soil near your ephemeral ponds.

Finally, have you met the local NRCS agent for your county? Those people are experts in a lot of topics regarding land usage and management. If that person cannot give direct advice about toad habitat, they may know an expert or know of an on point publication from Texas A&M.

They may even know of a cost-share program with the state for habitat enhancement. Who knows, if you need to rent a mini-excavator to dig your ephemeral pools, they may have a program that will reimburse you 50% of your costs. It never hurts to ask!

Congratulations on your refurbished pond. I hope you greatly enjoy managing that plus any wildlife management efforts on your adjacent property!