Cornell Cooperative Extension

Allegany County
Frog and Lily Pads on Pond
Image by Liz West, flickr.com

Lily Pads can hurt a pond ecosystem if uncontrolled.

Ponds

A pond can add both beauty and utility to your property. The following resources may be helpful as you consider building a pond, or managing an existing one.

Shovel and Pond

Building A New Pond

Successful ponds require careful planning. New ponds must be located in the best spot possible, supplied by a consistent water source, and constructed with an adequate spillway.

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brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill, 1814)

Stocking Your Pond

Trout, bass and blue gills are popular choices for stocking your pond. Find resources here that will explain fish choices, requirements, necessary permits, and more.

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pond and vegetation

Aquatic Weeds & Algae

Decisions about aquatic weeds have consequences for swimming, fishing, and environmental quality. We recommend a step-by-step approach to weed management.

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Cattails in a ditch, Dryden NY

Controlling Cattails

A few cattails can be desirable in a pond however they often grow into thick stands. Learn various methods to use to control them, here.

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Children Playing in a Lake

Pond Safety

Lack of close supervision, underestimating children's curiosity or overestimating their sense of judgment all contribute to young children drowning in farm ponds. Learn how to keep your pond safe, here.

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Frog

Attracting Pond Wildlife

Most ponds will attract significant wildlife without any effort on your part. Here are suggestions on how to attract or discourage wildlife from taking up residence at your pond.

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Contact

Lynn Bliven
Ag & Natural Resources Issue Leader
lao3@cornell.edu
585-268-7644 ext 18

Last updated July 30, 2024

Ponds

Soil & Water Conservation

New York State Soil & Water Conservation Committee logo, for use as a sidebar link to: http://www.nys-soilandwater.org/crep/index.html

Contact your county NYS Soil & Water Conservation District office and ask about a pond site evaluation to determine if your site is appropriate for a pond. Find local offices HERE.

The Pond Guidebook

Cover of The Pond Guidebook (2007, Ochterski, et. al) at http://palspublishing.cals.cornell.edu/nra_order.taf?_function=detail&pr_id=163&_UserReference=C096DBA013CB87D6470CBD50

The Pond Guidebook (2007, Ochterski, et. al) is written for ponds of 1/8 acre or larger in the Northeast, the Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic United States. The authors explain the causes of many common pond problems and review the advantages and drawbacks of various treatments. The book suggests practices that minimize negative impacts on the environment, promote healthy ecosystems, encourage responsible use of chemicals, and enhance biological diversity. View this publication as a PDF.

Events

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Farm Pond Safety

This fact sheet from Penn State University Cooperative Extension covers steps to take to prevent accidental drownings in your farm pond.

Agricultural Analytical Services Lab - Water Testing at Penn State