Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - I dont know what to do with a couple small ponds.

We have a small 2000 gallon pond that has water in it most of the year. I will maybe haul in 2000 gallons over the summer, mainly for the wild life. It's a low spot in clay but we believe it must have some natural water draining into it along with the rain run off from our road. It's around 3' deep at most. Down a little draw about 100 feet I dug another hole in a shaded area that also fills up during the winter with run off. It's around 3 to 4 feet deep and around 2000 gallons also. Last year I got a red algae in the upper pond and didnt know what to do about it. Right now it is covered with a green stringy algae and the water seems to be not evaporating. It's about 20% full. I was going to fill up both ponds and pump water out of the lower one up to the higher one, letting it drain down the draw through the small over populated pine trees and pine needles back down to the lower pond. Would this help to keep the bad algae out of the ponds? Thanks for any advice Rick

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"Red Euglena" are the red fresh water algae blooms per the experts here.

Per wikipedia:

The members have it correct about your small pond algae issues. Even more dramatic to what FishinRod said "Algae spores are nearly everywhere in non-desert environments". Algae spores ARE everywhere especially where there is any wind. Algae seems to grow everywhere. Different species prefer different conditions. Sunlight, water and nutrients make them grow. IMO it will be hard to maintain good water quality all the time in those tiny ponds. If they were mine I would research wetlands and then try and copy and use a few of the recommended nutrient consuming plants that are used in wetland management.

https://www.wisconsinwetlands.org/updates/ephemeral-ponds-seasonal-habitat-for-wildlife/

https://ngs.org.uk/app/uploads/2024/01/How-to-make-a-mini-wetland-guide_NGS.pdf
see the section on How to Build a Wildlife pond. Appropriate for your situation.

See THIS FROM PENN STATE
HTTPS://EXTENSION.PSU.EDU/MANAGING-YOUR-RESTORED-WETLAND
The following listing is a selection of plants adapted to wetlands. Plants are grouped under headings indicating their ability to tolerate standing water. Appendix A describes these and other common wetland plants and their benefits for wildlife.
Obligate
• Arrow arum (Peltandra virginica)
• Beaked spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata)
• Blue flag (Iris versicolor)
• Cattail (Typha spp.)
• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
• Hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus)
• Manna grass (Glyceria striata)
• Overcup oak (Quercus lyrata)
• Rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides)
• Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
• Tussock sedge (Carex stricta)
• Water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica)

Note there are also other good marginal pond plants that will grow in your tiny ponds. Do diligent homework.