I searched the archives to learn about how important (or not) it is to remove snow from Northern ponds. Bill Cody posted he removes 20 to 30% of the surface area.

I would imagine like all things pond, there are a lot of variables and no hard and fast rule.
Some of my variables are: 2/3 acre pond 8' deep at deepest, most of it 6 to 7' deep. Pond is only 2 years old and not quite full. Embankment pond with no appreciable watershed runoff and no incoming stream. There are a couple of hundred fish up to 10" in size plus innumerable forage fish.

I shoveled off of the pond last Sunday and again today - maybe 20% of the surface. Last week it snowed 2" on Monday negating my work.

I would like opinion on if the oxygen levels will crash and fish will die if I do not shovel. There has been ice and several inches of snow (like 12" where it is not shoveled) for the last 2 weeks. Any generalities? - Like "If there is 4" of snow, little light will get through, and if that condition persists for 4 weeks, the fish will die".

I don't mind the exercise but I'm not sure I can keep up with it.

I ran a wire for an aerator but none installed. I would way prefer a balanced pond that did not need aeration for the fish to survive but I am guessing that is not a good plan.

2/3 acre pond 12 miles from that big pond we call Lake Erie.