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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,868 Likes: 303
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Joined: May 2014
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For once, I made a non-dumb move at my place. Pumped extra water into the forage pond when water was abundant in the spring & overflowing the standpipe. If need be, I can replenish the main pond a little, maybe 500 - 600k gallons. Or raise fish in the forage pond with less danger of it getting too shallow & hot.
If what I'm hearing about the Hunga Tomba volcano is right, we might be seeing unusually warm winters & hot summers for a few years.
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160
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FishinRod |
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Did you throw in some FHM and some of your CNBG. One spawning cycle might give you some good forage to flush back into your big pond as needed!
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anthropic |
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Joined: May 2014
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Joined: May 2014
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Stocked a few CNBG, no FHM as I planned to feed. Then the feeder quit working.
Assuming I end up not selling the place, I want to stock some channel cats for my watchful good neighbors to catch. Will have to get another feeder, but at least the feed for cats is cheaper. But that means I can't just drain forage pond into main BOW, as I don't want CC there.
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160
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FishinRod |
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Joined: May 2004
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Moderator Lunker
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Looked over yet another fish kill. (sigh)
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Sorry to hear that. Did heat/low DO get them?
AL
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Joined: May 2014
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Joined: May 2014
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Man, I'm sorry to hear that, Theo. My mom lives in southwest Ohio and complains about lack of rain, though it hasn't been especially hot like it has down here.
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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Sorry. I figure it is in my future for one of my Ponds.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,169 Likes: 293
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,169 Likes: 293 |
I posted on another thread a few days ago that I was hoping to see the APW make a comeback in my pond now that the crayfish numbers have been substantially reduced. Was on the dam with the weed whacker Saturday and noticed several new patches of it growing. Looks like a few sprigs of mud plantain in the pic too. ![[Linked Image from hosting.photobucket.com]](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/r603/casemanaugie/2023-08-18_19.56.35.jpg)
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SetterGuy |
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
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After a 2-1/2 year drought, we got over 10" of rain at the farm during July. We even got one nice rain in early August. However, it is now two weeks since the last rain so I had to go out and water trees.
Observations: One groundwater pond is now dry, and the other one has 1' of water - which matches the water level in the adjacent creek. Our main creek just quit flowing, but the pools are full. (It is a combination surface water/ground water creek.)
Despite the awesome rains we had in July, it clearly did not make up the long-term deficit in the groundwater aquifer. Our areas of tallgrass prairie are very tall and lush. My 2-4 year old tree plantings that are in good soil are also thriving. (I watered them during the early portion of the drought, but did not water them this summer.) Clearly our terrestrial plants are quite efficient at "intercepting" surface water that is percolating down through the soils above our sandy aquifer layer. Of course, the tallgrass prairie is adapted for drought. I have planted some drought-resistant trees appropriate for our area, and some fruit trees that I am trying to nurse along to maturity.
I am sending out good thoughts to everyone still in drought conditions! Hopefully everyone's ponds, fish, and land-based life forms can make it through this period of drought.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,427 Likes: 352
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Rod, take a look at these. I've been setting mine out during our drought, and they last for years. They're kinda sorta Ron Popeilish. Set it and forget it. TreegatorsI haven't complained about our drought, but the continuous triple digit days, and temps still in the 90's after dark, are beating me down. I know I'll be whining in January/February when we get prolonged freezing temps, but I am looking forward to my wood store fired up in the shop, and listening to podcasts as I'm welding some project just because I can.
AL
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Thanks, Al. I may have to try those on my "isolated" trees.
I have set totes and drip irrigation in the locations where I have multiple trees. (Poly tubing and emitters are dirt cheap.) I run by with a tote on my trailer and can transfer 265 gallons in a few minutes with a bilge pump.
That worked great until the creek quit running! Now when I pull from the still pools, the algae in the water is so thick that it clogs my drip emitters.
Do the Treegators require "clean" water, or will they still do a slow release with water that is about 12" on the secchi disk? If so, can I open them up and scrub the fabric clean when I finally get too much build-up?
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Joined: Feb 2011
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I'm not sure if they do, because I always use the water hose after I get half a dozen dirt dobbers nests out of it. The holes are really small, and that's what makes it drip so slow. If I can make a suggestion, try one of these to filter the algae. I would probably pick a 200-300 micron sack, and maybe even an 800 sack. I always use them on the outlet when I'm moving coontail infested water to my hatchery pond. I've had zero algae or coontail remnants chopped up by the pump get through it. Filter BagsPentair is like Grainger. They're expensive, but they have everything you might need. I just had an afterthought, but if you ty the sacks, I would run some of that water into a white bucket, and make sure it doesn't let the algae through. That would be better than cleaning dozens of emitters.
Last edited by FireIsHot; 08/22/23 06:00 PM. Reason: ADD
AL
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1 member likes this:
FishinRod |
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2007
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I think the filter bags are an awesome idea.
I actually built a high water station (like the old elevated tanks to refill the steam trains) last year near my deepest pool. I can fill the water station and then gravity feed through a 2" hose to my trailer tank. The high station can then refill while I deliver that load of water.
I just suspend a 12v sump pump in the pool, so the water rate and velocity would be easily handled by a large filter bag! Easy peasy to just take the bag home and rinse it to get ready for the next irrigation day!
I usually only figure out that I have clogged emitters when I see one tree dropping its leaves. An ounce of prevention will definitely be worth a pound of cure!
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Joined: Oct 2018
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Joined: Oct 2018
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Tree watering bags are the best thing since sliced bread.
I bought a bunch of 20 gallon bags to put on my baby chestnut trees. Makes watering much less of a chore.
Couple things to note... the bags require support... a 5' sapling isn't stout enough to keep a full bag from toppling over and damaging the tree. A 5' sapling, grow tube, and 1/2" fiberglass tree stake won't hold a full bag if it isn't setting just right. I wound up adding a second stake to solve that problem.
The filter bags are a good idea if you're not using hose water. The drip holes are quite small and easy to clog even then.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,427 Likes: 352
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...Couple things to note... the bags require support... a 5' sapling isn't stout enough to keep a full bag from toppling over and damaging the tree. A 5' sapling, grow tube, and 1/2" fiberglass tree stake won't hold a full bag if it isn't setting just right. I wound up adding a second stake to solve that problem... I agree 100%. I just recently took the supports off a 8' Shumard Oak because those bags are heavy. 20 gallon bags X 8.33 are a little over 160 pounds.
AL
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
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I have been using 3/4" Sch 40 PVC pipe to stake my tree tubes. They have just enough flex that the trunks of the saplings move sufficiently in our relentless Kansas winds to build up some strength.
I used to get 10' sticks for $2.19 in bulk and cut them to 5'. The current price is now exactly double!
I just pull them up and re-use them when it is time to pull the tree tube (or the d*mn gophers kill the tree).
Have you guys had better success with another option?
(I also think they would hold a Treegator well, but I have not yet used any of those saturation bags.)
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Moderator
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Rod, since I only need a few, I probably spend more per tree than you do, or want to. I cage all my new shoreline Bald Cyprus because of beavers, and since their roots are touching the water table, I don't need to water them. The trunk guard is only there to keep the goats from stripping the bark. Again. The t posts are 3' tall, and are cheap pressed steel. They're around $4 a piece. I use electric fence wire, and old water hose or chem hose if I have remnants. Electric fence wire is very easy to work with, and I have tons of it. I'll do another watering next week, then unzip the bag, and throw it in the back of the UTV. Since this tree is a little older, I want it to stress just a smidge. It should help the root spreads. I've had fire ant problems during the drought, and they'll target the bags if they stay on. It provides shade and water for them. Maybe it's just a TX thing, so if you don't have problems with that, then leave them on. I've had the bags for years, and they have lasted very well. 
AL
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,166 Likes: 759
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2007
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Thanks for the close-up picture! I do have to go a little sturdier on my stakes. I bet we get at least 25 days/year with winds of 30 MPH with higher gusts.
We don't have fire ants in Kansas (that I know of), but I do have the same problem. During the drought, the pocket gophers would go through my little irrigation circles because those plants were the only ones available with succulent roots. Sometimes the killed my tree, sometimes they didn't.
Likewise, the armadillos would dig around the edges of my water circles because that is where the insect larva were thriving.
I guess no matter what humans are trying to grow, nature always throws a few "green sunfish" into the mixture to keep us on our toes!
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,975 Likes: 193
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Pond is lowest since it filled.. no rain in sight , almost 3 months without rain and over 100 degrees last two months… not looking good for the ponds
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,975 Likes: 193
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,975 Likes: 193 |
Spoke too soon …. A badly needed rain popped up and maybe will save some trees and help the wildlife….. God is good!
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1 member likes this:
SetterGuy |
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2007
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Spoke too soon …. A badly needed rain popped up and maybe will save some trees and help the wildlife….. God is good! Rain prayer >>> rain dance? I had to go to the farm and water trees again today. I am amazed at how many survived our 2-1/2 years of drought. I think the stupid pocket gophers got more than the drought did. My surface water pond is now totally dry again. One groundwater pond is dry and the other groundwater pond is holding at about 2 feet. However, that one is well-connected to the regional groundwater aquifer, so it should be fairly stable at this point.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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I kinda dread going to my place during this drought. Spring fed creek is dry for the second time in 40 years. Ponds were looking bad a week ago when I was there. One small pond is dry. 1/4 acre one was hurting when I was there a week ago. Big pond had dropped about 3 feet in 10 days. Now about 7 ft low.
Problem is hoping for the floods to restock.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,427 Likes: 352
Moderator
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We're just now starting to get a noticeable water level drop. What we are having is leafs already falling falling out of trees. Way to early for that to be happening.
AL
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,427 Likes: 352
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Spoke too soon …. A badly needed rain popped up and maybe will save some trees and help the wildlife….. God is good! Good deal Pat. I was looking at Todd's place, and thought you would get it too.
AL
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Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
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New pond
by Bill Cody - 02/04/25 07:08 PM
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Koi
by PAfarmPondPGH69, October 22
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