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Soil erosion in the watershed contributes to turbid water. Proper watershed management practices and erosion prevention will eliminate these potential problems.
Plant a sod producing grass on any bare ground and maintain at least a 100' wide buffer strip of thick vegetation around the pond. Some impoundments with a heavy sediment load can be turbid all year. The more sediment in a pond the less mechanical activity it takes to muddy the water.
Ponds in Crop Fields
Ponds located within the watersheds of cultivated crop fields are candidates for heavy sediment loads. In such ponds, the water will rarely be clear enough for ideal fish production. We recommend the landowner correct the problem in the watershed before removing the silt from the basin. Consider the source of sedimentation first; otherwise the other measures you take could fail and a desirable fish population may never develop.
Sediment Traps
A preventive measure may be to install sediment traps or settlement basins upstream from the pond. The sediment in the pond should be dug out on an as needed basis to prolong the life of the pond. Silt should not be removed until the volume of the pond has been greatly reduced.
Shoreline Protection
Windbreaks and shoreline protection will enhance the pond’s appearance as well as improve the watershed.
- Plant trees and shrubs on the upwind side of the pond to dissipate prevailing winds.
- Plant aquatic vegetation, such as water willow or arrowhead, on the downwind side of the pond to help prevent wave erosion.
- If the shoreline is eroding, some protective measures should be taken such as rip-rapping, seeding grass, or planting trees on the problem areas.
Never plant trees on a dam. Tree roots may threaten the structural integrity of the dam causing it to leak.
Switch Grass
Switch grass is a warm season, sod forming grass that tolerates wetter soil conditions and once established is able to withstand flooded conditions for up to 45 days. Application rate of switch grass seed should be 8 pounds per acre.
In most cases, turbidity can be corrected. Proper watershed management practices as well as vegetating exposed or eroding banks, and the stocking of proper fish species, are all good practices in any pond.
Contact your local Missouri Department of Conservation Regional Office for additional information on clearing turbid (muddy) ponds and other related problems. You may do this by calling 573/751-4115, emailing conservation.state.mo.us or writing: Missouri Department of Conservation/Fisheries Division P.O. Box 180 Jefferson City MO 65109
