Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Spring fed?

Is there a sure fire way to determine if my pond is spring fed or not. (See post "begining to manage a pond") There are those who are of the belief that it is. I have come to find, most folks in my neighborhood like to assume things about pond management with no real evidence or supporting data. So, let me put it to you guys, how can I figure this out?

Also, there is one area in the deepest end of the pond that freezes last, and opens up first. Is that reason enough to call it spring fed?

Craig

Craig, if you lose significantly less depth to evaporation during the hottest, driest part of the Summer than ponds that are definitely NOT spring-fed, that would be a pretty good indication of a decent spring feeding the pond.

WRT the deep part that freezes last and thaws first, maybe. The deep part should freeze last AND thaw last, IMHO.

If you pump it dry and it fills back up by itself its spring fed
BTW,I aws joking ,if you pump it dry the fish will be really POed

craig, does the pond have a creek feeding it, and does it stay full without rain?

spring water should be coming out of ground at a fairly constant temperature, probably colder than the pond water. get a thermometer you can suspend to the bottom of pond, go around in a jon boat and take readings you might find the exact point water is coming in if there is any.

there's also possibly some semantics involved here but it could be a groundwater (water table) deal...not technically a spring. was yer pond dug below the water table? depending on where the GW table is relative to full pool level, you could have a gaining (water) or losing (water) influence becuase of that.

Good feedback guys, I will be getting a thermometer ASAP. As for pumping it dry, I'll pass on that for now, don't want to PO the fish. There is no creek feeding the pond, it does sit adjacent to a wetland that by design feeds the pond when it gets full. The pond maintains a very stable depth through the summer.