So... planning to do a bunch of work this fall on 17 to 20 acre pond built in 2003 with relatively little maintenance since. The earthen dam on the main sediment pond washed out and lots of silt built up near that area. Was good solid clay; butcouldn't withstand the volume of water going over it. Willows grew along the edges. Sediment ponds filled with sediment.

Drained it down pretty far earlier this year and started taking out some of the trees; but ground at water's edge was soft and needed excavator elsewhere. Spring rains filled it back up. I started 8" siphon and had it draining for three or four days when big storm hit. We received over 5" in about 24 hours on already saturated fields. Water was pouring in and it barely kept from going over the main dam. So... I let the siphon keep running and semi forgot about it for a few days. Went to turn it off. Probably have about 6 acres of water. Probably still over a dozen feet deep in center. Could walk to island with boots on. Can see some picnic table stuff that were blown into it during bad windstorm a couple years ago. Probably not a good situation for fish spawning. It was interesting to see where the bluegill / redear beds were. One was exactly where I thought; but the majority of beds were on a shelf about 80 feet out from bank. Never knew anything about those. Were probably in about 5' of water during normal level.

Nagging concern that sticks from trees around edges could enter and plug siphon pipe. Didn't put guard on intake end back then. Would feel better if had; but would take draining all the way or scuba diver to do now.

Will do some excavator work on island shaping wave eroded banks, taking out undesired trees that grew, and fixing better place to dock pontoon boat.

Will take out as much sediment as can in main body and sediment ponds and remaining trees from edges.

Will add pipes through main sediment pond at different levels so normally about 1.5 acres; but can contain about 2.5 acres without running over. This will slow influx into main body.

Would like to add some overflow pipes to main body into valley away from dam. That valley is currently partially farmed and partially in CRP. CRP expires this fall. One of reasons for waiting on completing. Hoping to dam that valley up and turn it into about a 4.5 acre pond.

Would like to put structure in. Have access to all the fiber optic pipe I could want from 2 to 4" diameter. I may see if can upload Google map photo. Wide open to suggestions on where and how much.

Would also like to put in dock. Wife adamant that it look nice. Have to figure out where to put it and what it'll be.

Been battling some type of blue green algae for last couple years. Stinks badly and have had known fish kills twice in last four years. Already some signs of it this year before drawdown. Will probably look at aeration this summer / fall while down.

I know the drawdown puts fish at risk. Assuming need to take out a bunch.

What all else should I be doing / thinking about?

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