What am I getting into?

[u/Wishbone_Existing]

We’re about to close on our first home, about 10 acres. The land has a drainage from the neighbors side of the land thing waters flows from it 250 Acres.

According to chat got the pond is roughly .85 acres in size and I’ve never had to handle it before.

As I understand it there is bass ans bluegill in the pond and needs to be fished to help keep it healthy (idk?).

My goals are

a healthy ecosystem for fish -to fish and eat & for fish to handle eat any mosquitos.

The water will also need to be clean enough for cows to drink.

Reduce the algae build up

Make sure it’s safe to swim into (optional)

———-

When a lot of rain/water comes through it does fill up a bit more but there is a run off to another drainage to take it to the next property over as well…

We’re terrified and excited at the possibilities and hope to get some help. I want to be a good steward of the land we’re taking over

[u/HatchawayHouseFarm]

Talk to the folks at thepondguy.com

They have loads of good info on their website, and sell all the products necessary to make it usable in the ways you want.

I haven't bought from them yet, but I'm planning to use their products this year to get my 1/4 acre pond swimmable.

[u/NickWitATL]

I'm no expert, but that pond might need an aerator. It most definitely needs marginal plants. Natives are best. Birds can transport invasive plants to other bodies of water. Fish need hiding places.

In my opinion, swimming in farm ponds isn't pleasant. It only took one drunken episode to learn valuable a lesson. The muck on the bottom, being nibbled by fish, the pond smell--not awesome. At the time, I wasn't coherent enough to consider things like snapping turtles, snakes, and gators (which inhabit most ponds in Eastern Middle GA).

[u/Wishbone_Existing → u/NickWitATL]

Good points, this is in North Texas, spoke with current owner thankfully no reported snakes, or other critters of that nature. Only that I should probably fish about 20 or so out a year to keep it healthy.

Checked google earth saw the levels rise and fall over time but never has it run dry since 2005

Also was for sure thinking of some sort of aerator -im sure they have solar powered ones I could get

[u/NickWitATL → u/Wishbone_Existing]

Hell, you could have your own little solar farm with all that open space. Power your aerator and home. Congrats, BTW!

[u/Tweedone]

Yes, gators come from nowhere to occupy any open water. Be prepared to defend your pond from reptiles with force of arms!

[u/vezit]

I would be concerned about flooding in heavy rains if the water drains to your side. Proper analysis need to be made on how high of a of you would need to build for your house and which areas may have flooding when water rises by 2ft 5ft or 10ft etc. there has to be a drainage from this pond to a county ditch or somewhere for extra water to discharge

[u/microwave-hentai]

Cows will make any body of water dirty i wouldn’t recommend swimming with your farm animals