Many community members are often overwhelmed by the idea of managing their pond on their own but do not have or want to spend the money on hiring a professional.  Pond goals usually vary from owner to owner and could be used for watering livestock, fishing, swimming, or aesthetics which can all be negatively impacted by improper management.  Often times these ponds have been inherited through land purchases or have not maintained sustainably. In these cases some of the more preventative measures are not possible and homeowners are left trying to manage the situation themselves with very little knowledge on how to do so. 

In order to help pond owners/co-owners and other community members impacted by pond management practices, Boone County Extension partnered with KSU specialist Forrest Wynne to present a 2-part series to summarizes best management practices for most pond owners.  Participants learned how to correctly construct ponds to avoid issues, how to stock ponds, proper herbicide applications for vegetation growth when necessary, how to manage leaks, and how to keep the water safe for wildlife and humans alike.

In total 67 attended the program live via Zoom across the state (a few from other states and countries) and 68 individuals reviewed the recording when they were unable to attend the live program.  A survey was sent to all registered individuals and 22 responded (19 attended live, 3 watched the recording).

Of those who responded, all felt they had a better understanding of the construction process and understood where to find help if they needed it.  All but one felt they could better ID and control vegetation in their ponds.  Several had already made changes to improve their ponds such as adjusting depths or introducing native fish for a healthier population.  Many plan to use what they learned in the near future, such as introducing an air diffuser to reduce the chance of pond turnover and increase oxygen levels for their fish populations.  Some participants chose smaller improvements such as adding cedar trees for fingerlings. One community member plans to use the knowledge to gain organizational support for a pond and wetland area in their park.

Overall, based on survey results, attendees felt the program was beneficial to them and shared the information with other friends, families and communities members.