Tractor and my pond

[plowhog]

I have a one acre pond which has suffered through four years of drought. In that time many aquatic plants began to grow.

For the first time this year, I have floating plants/algae. There are two established colonies-- one about fifteen feet across and one about ten feet across. I was advised to use a tractor to pull them out, but have no idea how to latch onto them? One thing I know is they are heavy. I rake small quantities of this material at the overflow, and just a single cubic foot weighs a LOT. Probably because it is mostly water.

Any ideas on how to latch onto this? I do have a logging winch but haven't used it yet. Or, some sort of rope system to the drawbar? It seems I need to get a number of attach points or the thing might slice in half?

 

[BoylermanCT]

They sell pond rakes for this purpose. Hook a rope to the tractor and to the rake, and off you go. Of course, this assumes you can get the tractor close to the pond, and have space to drive the tractor far enough to rake the pond.

 

[Wagtail]

Have a read through this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/337516-alien-invasion-i-want-my.html

There are lots of suggestions in it that may suit your situation. It's a long thread but he did get his pond back.

 

[KennK]

Keep in mind that stirring up the bottom of your pond can add nutrients to the water which in turn can facilitate algae growth.

What exactly is your objective? Fish, if present, need the weeds to hide and seek shelter, so you don't want a pond to be completely weed free.

If your objective is to open lanes for boating (to keep from fouling up a motor prop) then you should limit your removal to what is needed. As mentioned, the two typical ways is by using something to grab the weeds and pull them out (I've seen people weld two hard-tine rakes together back to back and form a loop that is tied to rope. Another option that I've seen advertised is a wide blade that sinks a bit and theoretically cuts the weed stems. Then you'd have to collect the floating vegetation with a rake-like device.

The only use of the tractor would be if the "load" was so big you can't pull it in by hand.

Oh, and of course they make weed cutting boats, but they are really quite expensive and likely beyond your budget.

 

[LD1]

long rope and drop a spike tooth harrow on the other side. Pull the harrow across the pond

 

[boggen]

some links that might help you find other information.
pondboss.com = forum more for mud ponds
koiphen.com = forum more for liner ponds

if you are pulling weeds / plants / algae / moss out of the lake/pond make sure you pull it clear up and out of the water. and do not let the stuff "decay" in the water.

 

[Rustyiron]

Drag a (tractor 3 pt) rake across your pond with your logging winch.
I use a blue dye (aqua shade) or TSC has one they brand, it works very well but not for killing weeds. Put it in before the warm weather/water growing season.

 

[Tigershark]

Order reward herbicide and spray parts of your pond. We have a 1.5 acre lake and have 8 grass carp that do a good job but sometimes it gets too hot you have to treat parts

 

[plowhog]

Went to rake the aquatic stuff at the overflow today. Found a 10 inch bass had gone over the spillway, through the culvert pipe, and was somehow trying to survive in a small flow of water overwhelmed with aquatic stuff. Didn't know how long he had been there, and he was sort of upside down at first.

I picked him up, went to the spillway, and thought I would hold him in the gentle current to get some oxygen across his gills. But as soon as I lowered him into the pond --- WHOOSH --- and off he went. I'll get some pictures of the algae stuff tomorrow.

 

[KennK]

To be safe, grass carp - or any other non-native species - should NEVER be introduced into a body of water that has ANY chance of overflow into another body of water. History is filled with the nasty results of the best of intentions.