Five Ways to Bring a Pond Back to its Prime

By Lane Rumelhartc

A well-maintained pond can be the heart of a landscape, providing a serene retreat for nature enthusiasts and a thriving habitat for fish and wildlife. However, as time goes by, ponds can lose their luster. Water quality may diminish, fish populations can become unbalanced, and invasive species may take over. Restoring a pond back to its prime may feel like an overwhelming process, but with the right strategies, it’s possible to rejuvenate a pond. Here are five steps that may help give your aging pond new life.

Understand Water Quality

Pond health starts with understanding water quality. Understanding pH, dissolved oxygen levels, nutrients, and hardness are factors in the overall health of the pond. High nutrient levels may cause algae blooms, which cause low dissolved oxygen levels. Aeration in ponds increases oxygen levels. There are artificial and natural ways to improve aeration. You may add a solar or electric aerator. Natural ways consist of planting species that oxygenate the water. If you are unsure of your pond’s current state, start identifying these issues with a water test. You may work with a local extension office or order a test kit online. Most pond fish thrive in a pH range of 6.5 to 8.5. If it is too acidic, you may add ag lime, or, if too alkaline, add gypsum. Add slowly to avoid stressing the current ecosystem, and shocking what is living in the pond. By focusing on these aspects of water quality, you will begin to create a healthier, more balanced environment.

Control Vegetation

Vegetation often causes issues in small-to-medium sized ponds. Controlling vegetation may provide immediate results. You may consider planting native, aquatic plants known to help oxygenate water like Coontail or Wild Celery. These plants also provide habitat and food for wildlife. Establishing plants around the perimeter of your pond also is important. Sediment and nutrient runoff can be prevented by planting a buffer strip around the edge. Be sure to plant perennial species that won’t grow large enough to restrict access to the pond in later years. Equally important as establishing plants is removing some plants. Assess what is currently growing, and either manually or chemically remove unwanted species. Species like duckweed or various filamentous algae don’t offer much value and can be raked out manually. This process is environmentally friendly, but it may take repeated efforts. You also may chemically remove plants like cattails that are overabundant. Using herbicides approved for aquatic use are more effective for large-scale infestations. Be aware overuse of herbicides may lead to oxygen depletion from decomposing plants.

Improve Fish Habitat

Another step is to consider changing or enhancing the habitat structure of a pond. If possible, go onto the water and grid-probe the pond to identify the deepest and shallowest areas. This will help identify places where you can drop artificial or natural fish shelters such as brush piles, logs, PVC, concrete, boulders, or other items to help fish find a place to escape. Some of the plants mentioned earlier also will provide habitat for younger fish. Pond depth also plays a role in the overall structure. Ponds in Iowa should have at least eight feet in depth to ensure sufficient oxygen, while areas of 12 to 15 feet are ideal for refuge during extreme cold weather. There also should be shallow areas two-to-four feet deep for spawning grounds. If your pond has silted in, it may be time to excavate areas to reclaim desired depths.  

Evaluate Your Fish Ecology

Once you have completed the steps above, it’s time to think about restocking the pond. When owners are looking to rehabilitate a pond, typically one of two things has happened — either fish have died off, or one species is taking over. In either case, a restocking effort is needed. Owners with an overabundance of small fish may consider digging out a portion of the dam to release the small fish and allow the pond to refill once the dam is repaired. For the sake of simplicity, let’s focus on a pond that has lost its fish. 

Quality fish need an established food source; adding a forage species at least six months ahead of stocking is recommended. Fathead minnows are offered by many qualified vendors. These are ideal, because mature fatheads can have six to eight successful reproduction cycles in a year if given the right water conditions.  Add about 1,000 forage fish per acre of water. Once the forage has established, it is safe to add bluegills six months ahead of any bass, crappie or catfish. Adding bluegills in the spring allows them to grow before adding the other predators. If stocked at the same time, the other species will outpace bluegills and end up eating some or all of them. Once fall arrives, the rest of your desired species can be stocked. Bluegill typically are stocked at 500 to 1000 fingerlings per acre; largemouth bass 50 to 100 fingerlings per acre; crappie 25-50 fingerlings per acre; and 100 to 150 channel catfish fingerlings per acre. Channels do not typically reproduce in small ponds, and may need restocked from time to time. 

Keep An Eye On Your Pond

The last step, and often most overlooked, is to implement a long-term monitoring plan. Each year, do a water quality test. Every few years, check levels of sediment by probing and checking depth. A sign of a healthy pond is to catch fish of all sizes. This indicates healthy reproduction, as well as a good balance of species. Watch for stunted growth, which may indicate overpopulation. Lack of prey fish may indicate an overabundance of predators, such as bass. Removing 20 to 30 pounds of bluegill per acre of water each year will promote a 10 bluegill to one bass ratio. Removing bass less than 12 inches in length will promote growth of larger, quality fish. 

Revitalizing a pond back to its prime requires a thoughtful approach that combines immediate actions and long-term care. Start by improving water quality through aeration and addressing nutrient imbalances, then carefully manage vegetation to promote a balanced ecosystem. Reintroduce fish thoughtfully, beginning with forage species to establish a strong food base, and maintain proper ratios of predator and prey to prevent overpopulation. Ensure your pond has diverse habitats to support all life stages and regularly monitor fish health, water quality, and population dynamics. With consistent effort and strategic management, your pond can become a thriving ecosystem that supports vibrant aquatic life, and provides enjoyment for years to come.