Managing Mississippi Ponds and Small Lakes A LANDOWNER’S GUIDE Managing Mississippi Ponds and Small Lakes A LANDOWNER’S GUIDE CONTENTS Sources of Assistance ................................................................................................................... 5 Planning .................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Management ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Planning ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Setting Objectives .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Site ............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Topography ............................................................................................................................................................... 7 Water Supply ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Soil ............................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Permits ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Constructing ............................................................................................................................... 8 When to Build ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 Size ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Depth ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Dams ......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Water Control Structures ........................................................................................................................................10 Banks ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Seepage ................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Pond Bottom ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 Stocking .................................................................................................................................... 11 Selecting a Supplier ................................................................................................................................................ 11 Stocking Options .................................................................................................................................................... 11 Managing .................................................................................................................................. 15 Fishing .................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Management Options ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Determining Fish Balance ...................................................................................................................................... 16 Corrective Management Measures ........................................................................................................................ 17 Managing for Trophy Bass ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Crappie Management ............................................................................................................................................. 20 Controlling Aquatic Vegetation .................................................................................................. 20 Physical Control ..................................................................................................................................................... 20 Mechanical Control ................................................................................................................................................ 21 Biological Control ................................................................................................................................................... 21 Chemical Control .................................................................................................................................................... 23 Common Problem Plants ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Liming Ponds ............................................................................................................................. 26 What is alkalinity? .................................................................................................................................................. 26 What is the recommended alkalinity? .................................................................................................................. 26 What if alkalinity is less than 20 ppm? ................................................................................................................. 26 Soil Testing ............................................................................................................................................................. 26 Liming Agents ........................................................................................................................................................ 27 When to Apply ........................................................................................................................................................ 27 Lime Application .................................................................................................................................................... 27 To Fertilize or Not to Fertilize? .................................................................................................. 28 When Not to Fertilize ............................................................................................................................................ 29 When to Fertilize .................................................................................................................................................... 29 Type and Rate of Fertilizer .................................................................................................................................... 29 When to Apply Fertilizer ....................................................................................................................................... 30 How to Apply Fertilizer .......................................................................................................................................... 30 Important Points on Fertilization ......................................................................................................................... 31 Muddy Water ............................................................................................................................. 31 Feeding ..................................................................................................................................... 32 Drawdowns ............................................................................................................................... 32 Drawdown for Aquatic Weed Control ................................................................................................................... 32 Drawdown for Fish Management .......................................................................................................................... 33 Unexpected Fish Kills ................................................................................................................ 33 Oxygen Depletions and Pond Turnovers .............................................................................................................. 33 pH and Mineral Problems ...................................................................................................................................... 34 Infectious Diseases and Parasites .........................................................................................................................