An Evaluation of Baron’s Pond and Recommendations to Establish a Family Fishery Chris Thornton Brien Knight Christine Maxwell Dan Nelson

Approximate Sampling Location Islands

SAMPLING Bathymetry – Lowrance LCX-25C GPS/sonar Secchi depth Profiles – Temp, DO, Conductivity, Irradiance – 0.5 m intervals – YSI 85 multi-meter & LI-COR light meter

SAMPLING Chlorophyll a – Integrated sampler – Triplicate integrated samples Total Phosphorous (TP) – Horizontal Van Dorn sampler – Triplicate TP samples – 0.5m, 1.5 m, 2.5 m

BARON’S POND Area: m 2 (≈ 0.72 acres) Volume: m 3 Avg. Depth: 1.19 m Max. Depth: 3.01 m

PROFILES

SampleChl a Depth(µg/L)MeanStd. Dev.Std. Err. integrated integrated integrated integrated integrated integrated CHLOROPHYLL a CONCENTRATION

TOTAL PHOSPHOROUS

RESULTS Secchi depth: 0.55 m TP and Chl a concentrations high – Must control nutrient loading to manage fishery properly

RECOMMENDATIONS Fish Removal/Alternate Stable State/Fish Stocking Remove all fish from pond using rotenone Manage for macrophytes Stock fish (planktivores & piscivores) Fish Stocking/Biomanipulation Stock fish (planktivores & piscivores)

RECOMMENDATIONS Fish Removal/Macrophyte Management/Fish Stocking Pros: – Proven to be more effective at managing nutirents and trophic level biomass – Removes “unwanted” fish species – Long-term/stable solution Cons: – Time consuming – Labor intensive – More costly Fish Stocking/Biomanipulation Pros: – Instant gratification (ie. Instant fishing) – Relatively inexpensive Cons: – Not always a long term strategy (maintenance required) – Top-down impacts not very strong (reduction of algal biomass not likely)

FISH STOCKING Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Largemouth Bass (Micropteris salmoides) Small individuals planktivorous Large individuals piscivorous Planktivorous

FISH STOCKING Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Largemouth Bass (Micropteris salmoides) 50 – 100 fingerlings per acre in fall 2 pair (sexually mature) in spring after ice melt 4 pair of large individuals per acre in the spring OR

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS 5 m wide buffer of vegetation – Filter nutrients and sediment – Control erosion

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS Pond aeration/circulation – Oxygenate water – Control internal loading of phosphorous – Prevent winter fish kills – Powered by solar or wind

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS Improve habitat – Add woody debris, tree stumps, X-mas trees – Add artificial structures

QUESTIONS??