Yes, per Cody if you see signs of parasitic or bacterial infection probably a wise course of action to allow cells to remain fallow over Winter after you identify the origin of the issue. Knock on wood I've never experienced any issues in my forage or grow out cells with infections. I've had a forage cell fallow all Fall and Winter and it's still very soft/moist in basin and sidewalls yet this Spring. I can only safely walk on the top 1/3 of sidewalls, everything else is still mucky. I think the layers of organic material and silt provides a blanket keeping clay moist and expanded...the only positive spin I can put on eutrophication process! I plan on filling next week and starting to fertilize to get blooms kicking. Still not sure what I'll be raising there - just setting the stage for whatever project interests me. I harbor zero concerns with leaks originating from leaving pond dry over Fall and Winter.