Common problem with all water impoundments, silt. Do not know how old my pond is but I now have cleared out most, if not all the black "pond muck" and am left with 6-10" of silt before I hit solid ground. This is the case from shore to middle of lake (tested with long pole).

Is there a way to remove/reduce this silt without draining the pond?

If I reduce the silt will it just turn the solid base into silt immediately or will it build up over time (as I expect).

Pond is 1/8th an acre and max 6' deep, so not huge. I was just hoping to have a section or two where I could wade out without sinking?