An Evaluation of Baron’s Pond and Recommendations to Establish a Family Fishery

Chris ThorntonBrien Knight

Christine MaxwellDan Nelson

ApproximateSampling 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: 2921.4 m2 (≈ 0.72 acres)• Volume: 3468.7 m3

• Avg. Depth: 1.19 m • Max. Depth: 3.01 m

5.7 5.8 5.9 6 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.50

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Temperature (°C)

Dep

th (m

)329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 3390

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Conductivity (uS)

Dep

th (m

)

5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.50

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Oxygen (mg/L)

Dep

th (m

)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 400

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

Irradiance (umol)

Dep

th (m

)

PROFILES

Sample Chl aDepth (µg/L) Mean Std. Dev. Std. Err.

integrated 144.71integrated 146.48integrated 156.82 154.07 13.87 5.66integrated 143.11integrated 153.04integrated 180.29

CHLOROPHYLL a CONCENTRATION

175.00 180.00 185.00 190.00 195.00 200.00 205.000

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3TP (µg/L)

Dep

th (m

)

TOTAL PHOSPHOROUS

RESULTS

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

properly

RECOMMENDATIONSFish 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)

RECOMMENDATIONSFish 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??