Pond Qestion and advice

[brin]

I have a 2 Acre spring fed pond and we had a leak in the old spillway pipe which caused the pond to drop 2 & 1/2 feet before we got it repaired and now due to all the rain we have gotten in Georgia the pond is back up to full pool and the new spillway pipe at the dam is working great.

Here is my problem and question...While the pond was down grass grew about 3 feet out from the bank all around the pond and the grass is tall ..so now from the bank you see about 3 feet of water surface as you look out and then about a 2 foot area of grass coming up out of the water with about 6 inches of the grass blades breaking the water surface and then the rest of the pond just water surface..I know it will be great for the bass and brim in the lake but it looks like heck..will the water eventually kill the grass, I mean the grass is now growing in a pond and only about 6 in. of the grass is above the surface of the water ? and second ..will the grass carp I have in the pond get rid of the grass ? If not what should I do ? if anything. Thanks - all suggestions appreciated.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'd leave it alone and let it die on it's own. If you are lucky, it will make it through spring and offer cover for you baby fish. But I think that in a few months, there won't be any sign of it.

Eddie

 

[brin]

Thanks Eddie, My wife is the one that was concerned due to the look and you have confirmed what I told her I thought....that the grass could not live with it's root underwater, so I will wait and see what developes and it will provide good cover for the Bass..By the way I follow your projects with interest - you folks are staying busy and really developing a nice place there..congrats...& thanks again.

 

[slaveToHorses]

I don't know, our grass seems to grow fine here in Oregon. Up through the water I mean.

 

[wushaw]

It depends on what kind of grass it is. If it is the kind that was already growing in the water then it will live, if it is the kind that grows out of the water then it will die.

 

[theboman]

The grass carp should clean it out totally. They are overly effective.

 

[brin]

I don't know, our grass seems to grow fine here in Oregon. Up through the water I mean.

Thanks for the picture and your reply...That is the way my pond looked until we got all the rain and the sprin started back up ..so now using your photo imagine another 2 feet of water in your pond so that the grass was only 4 to 6 inches above the surface of the water. I wonder if it can live submerged like that..I think it must be wild fescue since we never had any water type or aquatic type grasses in the pond - just since the water dropped 2 and half feet did that occur over a month long period..

 

[slaveToHorses]

Well I am not an expert on grasses, but this grass that is along the edges of the ponds around my place, grows equally well both in and out of the water, as long as it can protrude above the water line.

The bass and bluegill love it. So do the ducks and geese. Personally I think it makes the ponds look nicer, as long as I can find a clear spot to bring my lures back through, when I am fishing

 

[FxdGrMind]

Key to keeping out the 'Grass" is to keep the slope of the pond "Steep" up to the shore line. As in a steep drop off to 3+ feet of water.

I think your situation will clear its self for the most part as the full pool kills off the grass that is deeper than 6".

I take every opportunity when my pond goes dry, to dig it deeper and maintain the steep shoreline profile.

Cheers

 

[20 20]

I also agree with the steep shore line. I'd also if possible get a BH/exavator with a ditch bucket and clean it out before it becomes a bigger problem. It may die off, BUT what if it just starts speading, then it'll be harder to get rid of. Up here we have a huge problem with cattails, if you don't stay on top of them they're like wildfire and can spread out of control in no time.

 

[Uncle Wayne]

The grass carp should clean it out totally. They are overly effective.

Yeah they will. I I had a similar problem with my pond and the grass carp took care of it.

 

[texasjohn]

I'll bet it will return to the pond's former aspect.... grass grew in dirt/mud... will die in full water...

 

[brin]

Thanks to all of you folks for the advice, I am going to go out to the farm tomorrow to check the pond after all of the flooding we have had and will take some pictures and post them but after all of your advice I think I should wait until Spring and see if the grass dies or the grass carp take care of it..By the way do any of you know how long grass carp live ? I put about 6 grass carp in there about 15 yrs. ago and they were about 8 inches long. My wife tells me they have either died by now or been eaten by a Herron that I would like to terminate, but that's another story. Keeping in mind that my wife is always right...what is the lifespan of a grass carp ?

I really do appreciate the advice and I will post the pictures asap.

 

[texasjohn]

A history of grass carp tells you all about it...

Grass carp are one of the largest members of the minnow family and fish as big as 110 pounds have been fished from the Yangtze River in China. A more native size for USA waters would around 20 lbs. Life span for grass carp often is 5 to 11 years, but fish over 20 years of age have been caught in China & Siberia.

 

[brin]

Thanks for the information...I think I need to get a few more grass carp - mine must have died from old age..LOL

 

[RobJ]

Thanks for the information...I think I need to get a few more grass carp - mine must have died from old age..LOL

I can't recall if it was grass carp but check with your local county extension. ou may only want ones of the same *** because they can take over. You can also check with your state wildlife dept. And it doesn't take that many either.

Good Luck,
Rob

 

[Maxfli]

I share a 2 acre pond with the neighbor. We have a lot of cat tails on the shoreline. He hit his side of the pond with round up (or something similar) and I am surprised how nicely it clear out the vegatation. I would wait to see if it died away on it own, and if not hit it with a spray. I will probably clear my side next year, I was told to wait until the seeds heads are mature to spray.

 

[budlite]

Maxfli - Be VERY careful with Roundup or any weed spray, I think overspray will definitely kill the fish. Assuming you have any.

Brin - I believe that you can get a species of grass carp that are sterile. Or maybe they all are. And they should take care of the grass.

 

[RobJ]

I will probably clear my side next year, I was told to wait until the seeds heads are mature to spray.

Why wait, get them before the seeds mature, who wants more seeds. It might take a couple hits to get rid of them all. Mix the roundup double strength for faster and more complete results.

 

[brin]

I'd leave it alone and let it die on it's own. If you are lucky, it will make it through spring and offer cover for you baby fish. But I think that in a few months, there won't be any sign of it.

Eddie

Eddie, you and the others were exactly right..now after all of the rains we got here in Ga. I mean, a 500 yr. flood and the wettest season I have seen in 30 yrs. the pond is now full and all I did was add grass carp..but the tall grass I had growing in the pond is all now submerged and you can't see it unless you get up real close and it will provide great cover for the little fish..I will try to upload a picture..wish I had taken a before...but just know that the pond was down a good 3 ft and about that far out from the shore all around the pond we had the tall grass growth - about a 3 ft. wide band all the way around.