Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Snow removal - how much is needed?

AATW - You are correct there are a lot of variables. I thought I posted information about light transmission through ice and snow cover, but maybe I was mistaken.
Here is a gereralization:
1. Clear ice 5"-6" thick allows 85% of the light to pass through.
2. Cloudy ice 15" thick allows 10%-12% of the light to be transmitted into the water whereas 15" of clear ice allows approx 65-75% of light transmision.
3. A snow layer one inch thick blocks out 83%-90% of the light.
4. Snow 5" deep over 3" or more of clear ice blocks out almost all (98%-100%) the light.

The older your pond becomes the more likely it will experience winterkill due to oxygen shortages. This is because as ponds age they accumulate more organic sediments on the pond bottom. Organic sediments, incuding last seasons dead underwater vegetation, are responsible for consuming most of the oxygen during dark periods. Average water depth also plays a big role in winterkill. The deeper water has more volume to depth ratio and thus more dissolved oxygen has been stored before the ice formed.

Conditions with frequent snows on ice are frustrating for trying to keep some snow off the ice. Sometimes it seems like I am shoveling 4 or more times per week. It is how I get some excercise during winter. Pushing snow on the ice is not that difficult. Small patches of snow free ice are much better than no shoveling at all.

Cecil Baird has a small snow blower to assist him in snow removal. As I get older and weaker I am thinking of buying a small used hand operated walk behind snow blower. I have a John Deere lawn tractor with snow blower, but I will not take a chance of using it on the pond.