Very interesting information.

If I may add my $.02 worth from a pond water volume perspective.

First of all there are several different types of water inflow systems out there that eventually fill all our ponds.
1. Supplemental water from wells
2. Runoff only ponds (totally dependent on storm water runoff).
3. Perennial streams
4. And of coarse a combination of the above.

From my own perspective, our ponds are fed by a perennial stream that during drought times is not so perennial (intermittent). It is at these times that we are extremely vulnerable to fish die offs (obviously).
Last year for example we experienced a severe drought, the stream stopped running and the ponds dropped from 3 – 5 ft. Not much of a drop when the ponds are 16 ft. deep anyway you say!

Check out this incremental summary table for our trout pond.

Elev. (ft.)-- Surface area in acres. -- Acre ft. summary
56.0 ------------ .0 -------------- 0
58.0 ------------ .05------------- .1
60.0------------- .15------------- .2
62.0 ------------- .35------------ .7
64.0 ------------- .68------------- 1.8
66.0 ------------- 1.1------------- 3.6
68.0 ------------- 1.6------------- 6.3
70.0 ------------- 2.1------------- 10.0
72.0 ------------- 2.8------------- 15.0


Notice we have lost about half our water volume when the pond is down only 3 ft. (elev.69 = about 8 ac. ft.)!! This can be a serious management situation that is many times overlooked by pondmeisters.

I have on several occasions had pond owners tell me “their pond is 20 ft. deep………………but its only down 10 ft.” They probably have less than 20% of their water volume left. Think about the accumulation of ammonia and other wastes not to mention DO concerns.

Ed