With an estimated 1.1 million farm ponds in Texas and most of them full, interest is at an all-time high in pond management.

It is a perfect time to host a pond seminar, said Michael Palmer, County Extension Agent for Coleman County.

Recently, working with Peter Woods, extension program specialist from Bay City, a detailed program was presented dealing with management of stock tanks for both livestock and recreational fishing.

'If (you are) planning to construct a farm pond, the first thing a producer needs to do is make contact with the Natural Resource Conservation Service,' Woods suggests.

That agency, Woods said, can determine soil type and watershed, and determine the suggested size. Planning can save many problems down the road, he said. Once constructed, it is important to control brush on the pond dam, which could damage the integrity of the dam. Also, the slope should be at a 3:1 ratio, meaning for every three feet in distance, the depth will increase a foot.

Muddy ponds are also a common problem. This could be caused by excessive runoff where there is no ground cover in the watershed. In some cases, pH could be the cause, and adjustments will need to be made by adding some elements.

If a pond is overpopulated with undesirable fish, then the best practice is to completely restock. Five percent concentrations of rotenone in liquid or powder form is the recommended treatment for pond renovation. Advantages of rotenone include its low toxicity, for other animals. Livestock do not need to be removed from watering areas during treatment. Fish treated with rotenone are safe to eat, if gills are still red, and they are washed in fresh water at harvest.

In restocking fish, consider the size of the pond in the selection of species. If surface areas is less than one acre, catfish is the best choice. Bass should not be stocked in smaller ponds, since they have a high reproductive rate, and in time will become stunted. The number of fish stock will depend on level of management and times to feed a commercial fish supplement.

Woods also addressed the problem of leaky ponds. In most cases, it is a construction problem in which a gravel or sand is uncovered. Bentonite or more commonly know as 'drilling mud' is used to seal ponds. Woods said if possible, the bentonite should be worked into the soil, as it expands when covered with water.

To increase fish production, the single most productive management is the addition of fertilizer. Fertilizer will increase the microscopic algae, or as biologists refer to has the 'bloom.' This is the first step in the food chain within the ponds. Smaller bait fish feed at this level, providing food for the larger fish and so forth.

Woods reports that the main question in farm ponds by far is aquatic weed management. In aquatic weed management, the first step is identification. Aquatic plants are divided into four major divisions, depending on growth pattern. They are Algae, Floating Plants, Submerged Plants and Emergent Plants.

After the growth pattern is identified, then specific species needs to be determined. Several tools are available in weed identification. The website aquaplant.tamu.edu is an excellent identification tool for aquatic weeds. This site will also suggest chemical application, rates and special information.

Ponds owners do have a biological option to weed control. A permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife will entitle placement of Grass Carp into the ponds. The grass carp, also known as the white amur, is a vegetarian fish native to the Amur River in Asia. Because this fish feeds on aquatic plants, it can be used as a biological tool to control nuisance aquatic plant growth. The carp used in ponds possess an extra chromosome, thus making them sterile. Stocking rate for the grass carp is five per surface acre.

A farm pond or tank as it is known in West Texas, is a valuable part of any agricultural operation. As a water source for livestock, and a recreational site, it must be managed to be effective. NRCS and Texas AgriLife Extension have many guidelines to do so effectively.