Now that the sand mound septic system is fully installed I’m turning my thoughts to the pond.
The pond in May, 2019 — looks more like a mud hole.
The pond is tiny and natural and in need of some attention. As you may recall last year we put in a bale of barley straw to dissuade algae from growing. We didn’t see much improvement over the past year.
We can see the minnows and hear the bull frogs.
At the very lease we know the pond is stocked with bull frogs and minnows.
Sticky bladed grasses grow up around the pond.
I emailed the University of Maryland county extension agency to seek help in getting the murkiness out. I was informed that the green surface color is microscopic phytoplankton (algae) which is supported by nutrients or sediment going into the pond.
My goal is to have greenish rather than brownish water as clear as possible.
After speaking on the phone for a few minutes with the pond specialist I learned that some phytoplankton ( heleoplankton in ponds) is good because it produces oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, a process which converts carbon dioxide and sunlight into sugars the organism can use for energy. (One type of phytoplankton, Prochlorococcus, releases countless tons of oxygen into the atmosphere. It is so small that millions can fit in a drop of water. About 70% of the oxygen in earth’s atmosphere is produced by marine plants.)
Close-up of the grass around the pond — southern cut grass?
He also asked me to take close up photos of any aquatic plants I might want to control. I’m going to take photos and let the agent tell me if a plant good or bad.
I guesstimate the pond is approximately 400 square feet.
Hoping to make this “water feature” a lovely asset to the property at the shore house.
Jo
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