Higginbotham, Billy

Steinbach, Don

English

Texas A&amp;M Repository

Texas Agricultural Extension ServiceCLEARING MUDDY PONDSDon Steinbach and Billy Higginbotham*GypsumMix 2 level tablespoons (use a standard measuringspoon) of gypsum in I gallon of clear water. Stiruntil gypsum is in a slurry.Ponds in other areas of the state usually can becleared with gypsum. However, tests should be runon each muddy pond to determine the type andamount of compound to use because condition varyso greatly.These tests can be run by obtaining several 1-gallon samples of pond water in glass jars. One ofthe gallon samples should be set aside as a control forcomparison. A second gallon jug is needed toprepare a slurry for each compound tested. At leastthree other samples should be treated at various ratesto determine the rate and type of compound thatprovides the most satisfactory results.Muddy water is often a problem in Texas farmponds because it inhibits the growth of natural fishfoods and is not aesthetically pleasing. In addition,the reduced visibility in muddy ponds limits theability of sight-feeding predators, such as large-mouth bass, to feed on forage populations effect-ively.The first step in clearing ponds is to inspect thewatershed and shoreline for signs of erosion. Grasssod should be established on bare areas. Rocks orother rip-rap material should be placed on shore-lines of larger ponds if eroded by wave action.Many ponds become temporarily muddy follow-ing heavy rains, but clearing usually occurs in a fewdays. Abundant bullhead catfish and/or commoncarp populations may also cause muddy conditionsand should be eliminated.If heavy rainfall or undesirable fish are notcausing muddy conditions, the cause is negativelycharged clay particles. These particles repel eachother and will not settle out. The addition of posi-tively charged particles causes coagulation and pre-cipitation of clay particles.Compounds recommended for clearing pondsinclude agricultural limestone, alum (aluminumsulfate) hydrated limestone and gypsum (calciumsulfate). The compound utilized should be deter-mined by its cost, availability and effectiveness.Ponds in East Texas require special considerationbecause of their typically low pH and totalalkalinity. Water samples should be analyzed todetermine the need for agricultural limestone appli-cations. The addition of this compound often clearsEast Texas ponds.*Extension fisheries specialist and Project Supervisor, Wild-life and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University; and Exten-sion wildlife and fisheries specialist, Prairie View A&M Uni-versity, The Texas A&M University System.Number of tablespoons slurryadded to 1 gallon pondwater samples123456789101112Rate of gypsum to applyto pond if sample clearsin 12 hours (Ibs/acre-foot)8016024032040048056064072080088096037.22Texas Agricultural Extension Service. 1890 Cooperative Extension Program. The Texas A&M University SystemAlumMix 1 level tablespoon (use a standard measuringspoon) of alum in 1 gallon of clear water. Stir untilalum is in a slurry.The lowest concentration that will precipitate thecolloidal clay in 12 hours should be used to treat thepond. Remember to add hydrated lime as indicated ifalum is used for treatments. Be sure to consider theeconomics between gypsum and alum/hydratedlime.Number of tablespoons Rate of alum to For East Texas For other ponds,slurry added to apply to pond if ponds,* also add also add hydrated1 gallon pond sample clears in hydrated lime at lime at the ratewater samples 12 hrs (Ibs/acre-ft) the rate of (Ibs/acre-ft) of (Ibs/acre-ft)1 30 13 02 60 26 03 90 39 134 120 52 17*First submit a water sample to determine the need for agricultural limestone applications for East Texas ponds.This publication was produced jointly by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and the 1890 Cooperative Exten-sion Program, Prairie View A&M University, The Texas A&M University System.Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and Cooperative Extension Program serve people of allages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin.Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, asamended, and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. Zerle L. Carpenter, Director, TexasAgricultural Extension Service; Hoover Carden, Administrator-1890 Cooperative Extension Program, Prairie View A&M University,Prairie View, Texas, The Texas A&M University System.10M-6-85 FISH

Clearing Muddy Ponds.

https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/1969.1/174834/2/2161/Leaf2161.pdf

Clearing Muddy Ponds.

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Clearing Muddy Ponds.

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Texas A&amp;M Repository

Texas A&M Repository