New Book Focuses on Pond Management

New Book Focuses on Pond Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 2007

ITHACA—The Pond Guidebook (NRAES–178) contains dozens of tips and insights for managing ponds one-eighth acres to four acres in size. It addresses key topics such as water chemistry, construction, measurement, aquatic weed management, fish selection and stocking, nuisance wildlife, annual maintenance, safety, and more. If you have a pond or would like to have one someday, this new book was written for you.

Based on research, experiences of pond owners, and hundreds of site visits, these guidelines were written primarily for ponds located in the Northeast, the Great Lakes, and the Mid-Atlantic United States. Using nontechnical language, the authors explain the causes of many common pond problems and review the advantages and drawbacks of various treatments. The Pond Guidebook suggests practices that minimize negative impacts on the environment, promote healthy ecosystems, encourage responsible use of chemicals, and enhance biological diversity.

The 76-page book is divided into six chapters: Getting to Know Your Pond; Pond Construction and Maintenance; Fish Management in Ponds; Aquatic Plants and Weeds in Ponds; Attracting and Managing Wildlife at a Pond; and Pond Recreation, Safety, and Fire Suppression. A pond assessment form and a listing of sources of pond maintenance supplies are also included, along with 34 photos and 24 illustrations. More information about the book, including sample pages, can be found at

The Pond Guidebook was published by NRAES (Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service), Cooperative Extension. It was authored by Jim Ochterski, Senior Extension Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension; Bryan Swistock, Senior Extension Associate, College of Agricultural Sciences, School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State University; Clifford Kraft, Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University; and Rebecca Schneider, Associate Professor and Leader, Department of Natural Resources Extension, Cornell University.

The Pond Guidebook (NRAES-178) is available for $19.75 per copy (plus shipping and handling) from NRAES, Cooperative Extension, PO Box 4557, Ithaca, New York 14852-4557. You can order online at Shipping and handling for one copy is $4.25 within the continental United States. New York residents, add 8% sales tax (calculated on both the cost of the publication and the shipping and handling charges). Major credit cards are accepted, and checks should be made payable to NRAES. For more information or a free publications catalog, contact NRAES by phone at (607) 255-7654, by fax at (607) 254-8770, or by e-mail at < >.

If ordering more than one copy or if ordering from outside the United States, please contact NRAES for shipping rates and possible quantity discounts or visit our web site Orders from outside the United States must be prepaid in U.S. funds.

Short Announcement

ITHACA—A new book from NRAES, The Pond Guidebook (NRAES–178), contains dozens of tips and insights for managing ponds one-eighth acre to four acres in size. It addresses key topics such as water chemistry, construction, measurement, aquatic weed management, fish selection and stocking, nuisance wildlife, annual maintenance, safety, and more. Based on research, experiences of pond owners, and hundreds of site visits, these guidelines were written primarily for ponds located in the Northeast, the Great Lakes, and the Mid-Atlantic United States. If you have a pond or would like to have one someday, this new book was written for you.

The Pond Guidebook (NRAES–178) is available for $19.75 per copy (plus shipping and handling) from NRAES, Cooperative Extension, PO Box 4557, Ithaca, New York 14852-4557. You can order online at For more information or a free publications catalog, contact NRAES by phone at (607) 255-7654, by fax at (607) 254-8770, or by e-mail at < >.