@esshup - You have a bad habit of making great points. smile The Republic of Illinois… lol you're preaching to the choir. The only area worse is Connecticut, which is where I just moved from. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

Regarding some of your points/questions, these are definitely things I have to figure out now that I am able (depth, fish in the pond, etc.). I do know that after skimming a little off the shoreline, there are plenty small green sunfish. I haven't netted/fished otherwise. Just moved her in late November of 2020 and trying to get my arms around the weeds. Last summer the entire surface was duckweed.

I was gifted a nice fountain for the pond as well, but not sure if this will abate the algae. Seems more likely to help with the duckweed though.

I'll do some research, but if my pond feeds into another body of water, will the Republic of Illinois come after me and my children if I use an algaecide?

Thanks for the input.

…ryan

"The old pond. A frog jumps in: Plop!"
– Matsuo Bashō