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

My ice thickness currently ranges from 5" to 6". My pond is sheltered and ice form later and leaves later than on ponds that are more exposed. Snow cover and increasing ice thickness are both insulators and slows ice formation.

Oxygen loss-consumption due to dark time is a progressive thing. I have measured DO on ponds that had been covered with 8"-10" of snow for 2.5 wks and DO was still good 8-9ppm. I would get nervous about oxygen loss after 3 wks of darkness and less than 10 ft of water. I think not enough DO testing has been done on various snow covered ponds to provide real good information on this topic.