Management of Small Impoundments Chapter 12 (Lake food webs) Chapter 15 (Natural Lakes) Chapter 16 (Farm Ponds & Small Impoundments) Quote for today: "The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span the hours spent in fishing. Babylonian Proverb
Goals Explain pond ecology and management principles and important options for achieving desirable outcomes of pond fisheries ( balance ) Evaluate a case as an example in lab
What are small impoundments? Wetlands, (farm) ponds, swamps, small lakes Size 0.5-5.9 ac
Construction lots of planning Dams to impound water Lots of considerations
(Multiple) Uses Food Water Flood control Recreation Wildlife conservation
Pond Management Fishing quality Closed, manageable systems
HELP: Pond Management The Science and Management Cooperative Extension Service National Resources Conservation Service Fish and Wildlife Agencies Private Consulting firms State Fish and Game Departments Links on Webpage
Beginnings of Pond Mgt
Pond Ecology Physical Zonation Temperature Size, shape Habitat (veg, timber, substrate, contour, heterogeneity Light Water movement Chemical ph, CO2 Nutrients (productivity, fertility) DO Alkalinity Biotic Food web, trophic structure Competition Predation Top-down, Bottom up Trophic cascade Willis et al. Ch. 16 IFM Neal and Willis 2012 Small impoundment mgt in NA
Pond Ecology Interaction and all that stuff
Pond Ecology & Management Principles Trophic relationships Producer levels Consumer levels Predators and Prey Harvest Habitat Refuge Spawning Temp Water Chemistry DO Alk Zooplankton MacroInverts Zooplanktivore Phytoplankton Piscivore Piscivore
Pond Ecology & Management Principles Population dynamics and demographics: TERMS Pop size (Density) K vs. standing stock AND stunting Size structure Age structure Growth and mortality rates
General Principle Mean Fish Size ~ productivity + habitat Mean Fish Size ~ 1 / Density
Pond Management Tactics: Review Bottom up (e.g., habitat) Top down Predators Harvest and regulating harvest (critical)
Types of harvest regs Minimum (Protected) slot C/R 12 15 harvest No harvest harvest trophy
Other Items to Consider Spawning Feeding Fertilize Lime Turbidity Vegetation Stunting These factors don t operate in a vacuum
Reproduction/Spawning Desired! Know your system
Feeding Increase K (or growth) of infertile ponds High harvest ponds Grow bigger fish Know your system Negative effects
Fertilization Where soils are infertile Caution
Liming Increases alkalinity, reduces acidity
Turbidity Colloidal size particles Gypsum, Alum, Ferric sulfate
Aquatic Vegetation Algae Phytoplankton Macrophytes
Aquatic Vegetation Management Know how to fish it!
Aquatic Vegetation Management Mechanical: Harvesting Dredging Shading: plastic films, mesh, dyes Draining and freezing
Aquatic Vegetation Management Chemical: Herbicides
Aquatic Vegetation Management Biological Grass carp Barley Straw Insects
Aquatic Vegetation Natural Succession of lentic systems Eutrophication Cultural Eutrophication Manage it for balance
Pond Management Each pond is unique
Pond Assessment 1. Do nothing 2. Corrective stocking 3. Harvest manipulation 4. Reclamation Rotenone
General Types of Ponds Warmwater Coldwater Coolwater
Stocking and Harvest Options Objectives Regional strategies Case by case basis Angler owner preferences
All-Purpose Harvest of LMB, BG, and CC 12-15 in slot limit for LMB
Harvest Quota Option Quota on number or weight per time Difficult: Tend to overharvest larger individuals
Panfish Option Big panfish instead of LMB 15 in min length for LMB Easy and safe? Hybrids
Big BASS Option Reduce number of LMB 8-15 inches so remaining individuals grow large Release all LMB > 15 inches (except bucket mouths) Feed them
Catfish Only Option Muddy or small ponds Limit spawning habitat
Black Bass Only Option Ponds with too much cover Feed on crayfish, bugs, own young Safe and easy
Trout Options Coldwater ponds spring fed Rainbow trout Fee-fishing ponds Boring?
Other recent stocking strategies Coppernose Bluegill growth Feed-trained LMB mixed feelings Female only LMB hard to ID Hybrid striped bass limnetic predator (Pickerel) or Pike human competitor
Pond Construction Pretty rare now Wouldn t it be fun to design your own pond?