Ponds bring a wave of nostalgia: a memory of fishing at grandpa’s or ice skating with friends. Man-made fishing ponds also create new ecosystems that make a positive impact on the environment.

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Besides providing sportsmen with a ready supply of fish, man-made fishing ponds also create new ecosystems that make a positive impact on the environment. PHOTO: Custom Publications

Creating a new ecosystem, whether a terrestrial habitat or an aquatic one, can change the balance of nature.

“When you make a change, these are the most rich, diverse ecosystems,” said Randy Lang, a fisheries staff specialist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Edge areas that border the habitat are unique in that they would not exist otherwise. Animals, aquatic life, birds and insects are attracted to ponds.

“You don’t have to stock the animals,” Lang said. “They will find it themselves. It creates its own life.”

Dig it
The DNR recommends that ponds be a half-acre or larger, with 25 percent of the space at least 10 feet deep. Creating a pond this size usually requires the services of a professional, who can advise on the contour and aeration and filtration requirements. A professional also might recommend a spillway or drain pipe.

Proper oxygen levels are critical to a healthy fish population. In winter, ice, snow and reduced light penetration cause plants to decompose. Nutrients then become heavy and create oxygen debits. In the summertime, heat encourages algae growth, also causing oxygen levels to decrease. To sustain the oxygen levels needed by fish, an aeration system generally is required.

Below the surface
When it’s time to stock a pond, investigate the recommended ratio of fish per acre to establish a balanced population that provides good fishing. The pond should have just three to four species of fish.

“A homeowner might like to add more, but sometimes if you use too many species, you affect the balance in the pond,” Lang said. “You need to know that there may be consequences.”

Bluegill, a forage fish, and large-mouth bass, a predator, are two pond staples. Red-eared sunfish and channel catfish add diversity.

Red-eared sunfish, bass and bluegill are self-sustaining. When they aren’t overharvested, they don’t need to be restocked. Channel catfish normally don’t reproduce in a pond and might need to be restocked every two to three years.

Picture-perfect ponds
What happens in a pond is a snapshot of the watershed it fits in. Residential growth, dredging of nearby streams and high sediment input can cause an increase in nutrients. Pesticides and fertilizers can disrupt reproduction, change growth patterns ad impact the health of a pond. High concentrations of these chemicals can be lethal to aquatic life.

“Good grass is a natural filter,” said Fred Whitford, extension specialist for Purdue University’s pesticide programs. “If you have good grass, it is difficult for sediment to wash off.”

Overtreating algae causes a loss of oxygen – and eventual death – for fish.

- By Mindy Weaver-Flask, for Custom Publications_

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