With the many types of ponds represented on the PB forum I thought it may be helpful to start a thread to gather in one place some of the characteristics of them and how they effect or are effected by the different ways they are managed. We see variables in size , in soil condition/productivity , intensity of management , water availability and quality and weather/temp. to name a few.

There is a continuum or scale to judge the productivity of ponds (trophic state - using the term loosely here) to mean from low to high productivity. While natural water productivity can and does vary greatly from place to place that is but one factor in the scale . The others are what we do with the water to make it more or less productive. The range goes from infertile natural waters to more fertile natural waters all the way to highly productive aquaculture operations. The amount of standing crop or carrying capacity of these different types of ponds is huge and so is the intensity of the management level and with it the knowledge needed to be successful.

So we need your help to ID the different factors and how to manage them , when to use them and the risks and rewards. This includes things like location and regional differences, fertility ranges , water quality issues , supp. feeding , aeration/water flow through/turnover , weather/temp considerations and soil types and a lot more .

The goal here is for a new pond guy/gal to have a place to find the general different types and factors of/on water productivity and the management levels and tools to use. It would be good to add links here to other posts on specific subjects. Not trying to write a book or re-invent the wheel but more of a short story with pics. (links) so one can know the basics and where to look for in-depth coverage.

I will be looking for things to add but this will take all of our efforts to be of any help. If we do a good job then maybe it can be used in the frequently asked questions area to address basic questions .

Last edited by ewest; 01/25/11 11:15 AM.