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| Winter Pond Management |
| The most common cause of winter fish kill in Ohio ponds is suffocation.
This occurs when aquatic plants do not produce enough oxygen for fish to
breath. This may happen during heavy snow and ice cover in the winter.
Once suffocation starts, it is too late to stop it. Winter kill can
best be prevented by removing the snow cover from the pond. Three
inches of ice covered by 5 inches of snow will shut out 99% of the incoming
light. To prevent or reduce the severity of winter kills, remove
snow from at least 50% of the pond surface. Drilling holes in the
ice will not help. Winter kills can also be prevented by aerating
the water with motor driven compressors that constantly agitate the water. |
| How Thick Should The Ice Be? |
| Ice skating on your pond can be a great winter activity.
But you first need to take precautions when ice over water is involved.
Ice on ponds, lakes and rivers can be affected by many things. The
strength and thickness of the ice should be known before any activity takes
place on it. Download
the OSU Extension Factsheet on Ice Safety. |
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Follow this rule of thumb for ice safety;
0 -3 inches stay off,
4 -5 inches for fishing and skating
6 -7 inches for snowmobiles, or ATV
8-11 inches for light truck or car
12-14 inches for medium truck
This table is based on new, clear or blue ice, not old or deteriorating
ice.
An old saying used by fishermen was "Thick and blue, tried and true;
thin and crispy, way too risky."
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Ice safety points to consider include:
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First ice or "frazil" is some of the weakest ice and should be avoided.
As ice ages, the bond between the crystals decays making it more dangerous
and weak.
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Wind speeds influence ice formation. Light winds speed up ice formation
making weaker ice. Strong winds force water from beneath the ice
and decay the edges of the ice.
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Snow can insulate the ice and keep it strong or it can keep the ice from
freezing. Watch out for snow covered ice. It may be dangerous.
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Slush is a danger sign. It indicates that ice is no longer freezing.
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Ice can change with the surrounding climate conditions. Temperature,
precipitation (such as snow, sleet, rain), wind speed, ice age, water depth,
and water quality are all factors that affect ice strength and thickness.
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Never check ice or rescue a victim of ice failure alone. You could
go from rescuer to victim very quickly.
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Last updated 12/18/2003
Web Page by Steve Rismiller, District Technician,
Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District,
1000 Locust Street, P.O. Box 549
Owensville, Ohio 45160-0549
E-mail: soil_water@fuse.net
phone (513) 732-7075 fax (513)
732-7077 |
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