Many ponds in N. Texas - as mine - that are fed off of the Wichita / Brazos Rivers suffer golden algae kills. I have a 1.3 acre aerated pond that was a great bass and bluegill pond until around 2000 when golden algae blumes began and I lost 100% of my fish at that time. I had the water tested and toxic numbers of golden algae /cc were documented in the pond as the source of the kill. Interestingly enough, at that time, the TPWD denied my claim and stated no ponds in Texas had ever been affected by the G. algae. They have since retracted that claim. The kills in all of these small impoundments is near 100% - minnows and all. Last fall I stocked coppernose BG, black crappie, fatheads minnows and catfish for the third time since 2000. About a month prior to this stocking (desperate to try somthing different), I placed barley straw (4 bales per acre)in the pond. I now have bluegill starting to feed - thus this is the first time in 6 years I have not had a winter blume take out ALL of the fish. A friend of mine stocked his pond at the same time and did not place any barley. He has once again had a total kill thru the winter just as he has had since 2000. Although never documented to help against golden algae, barley straw is thought, by some, to help algae problems in ponds so I thought it was worth a try. I just replenished the straw for the summer so I will see what happens. This is probably coincidental and is certainly not a study with any statistical significance, but I do have one of the only ponds (off of the Wichita R.)in this area that did not suffer a kill over the winter - and was the only one trying the barley. I would appreciate any comments or thoughts from anyone, especially Bob L., if you are reading this, as we have communicated with each other about this problem thru the years. Thanks, Doc Myers.