They killed my Pond!!!!! Heartbroken in OKC

[mrlitetackle]

........sorry for the loss man.

[cart7t]

This isn't just a phenomena in smaller ponds.  The ocean also suffers from similar events often known as "Red Tides".  Can be very devastating.  Those interested in fishing along the coasts, particularly in late summer/early fall need to keep an eye on Red tide alerts in areas they plan to fish.  

[Bob Lusk]

RoLo--Since you asked....

Freshwater, warmwater blue-green algae is, in fact, in the cyano-bacteria class. That makes it a bacteria. It is actually classified an algae, though. Blue-green algae is photosynthetic which means they can produce their own food. Blue-greens have chlorophyl-A-the same as plants have- and phycocyanin which captures sunlight. And, they are aquatic, which puts them in the "algae" class...although they have no relationship to all other freshwater algaes.

It's not really a plankton eating organism. But, it will take advantage of the nutrients released from dead plankton. It's typically found in eutrophic waters (older ponds loaded with nutrients) and makes its living mostly off phosphorus, especially in urban areas or where there's runoff from streets, lawns and such. However, it doesn't depend on that food source since it is one species that can fix atmospheric nitrogen that naturally dissolves in water. That way, it can make its own food. The eutrophic conditions just give it a jump start to outcompete the better algaes and plankton. We see blue-green algae blooms this time of year, after ponds have stratified and are warm. Then, the die off is often triggered by a heavy rain or just the bloom overgrowing itself and nature makes a correction with a dieoff.  

The fish kills are mostly attributed to oxygen-depravation. But, another way it "normally" happens is that blue-green algae grows in the water column and as it runs its course, rises to the surface to seek more sunlight to photosynthesize to make more food to continue its life. As it dies, the gasses inside that give it its bouyancy break the cell walls and release the "innards" of the algae/bacteria. Depending on the species, this release can be toxic to fish. It also is a big cause of "swimmer's itch". These toxins irritate human skin and in sizable concentrations, can cause problems for animals that drink the water.

I think the case in Moore, Oklahoma is a direct result of oxygen depletion due to rapid dieoff and decomposition of the blue-green algae bloom.

I see it way too often...but it is still a rare occurence. I happen to be in the sort of business where people call when bad things like this happen, so I get to see it. Still makes me sick to my stomach, especially since it could have been easy to prevent.

That's way more than any of us wanted to know, I'm sure, but you asked!

Live and learn!

[tnhiker44]

it could have been easy to prevent.

the die off is often triggered by a heavy rain or just the bloom overgrowing itself and nature makes a correction with a dieoff

I am going to guess that somewhere around 90% of urban ponds are never managed. That is a conservative estimate. And yet, based on the natural cycle of things I am going to make another guess... about 5% of these urban ponds do not recover from a catastrophic 'chemical unbalance'. With enough time I guess that 5% is a rather high estimate.

And although I agree that there is nothing 'natural' about most of the urban ponds, I disagree about not counting on nature to take care of it. Either the conditions exist for the pond to 'live' or they do not. If they do not then you have obligated yourself to a lifetime of fighting Mother Nature.

But, then again... I do not happen to be

in the sort of business where people call when bad things like this happen

[Fishing Rhino]

All the info on the blue/green algae is great.  I am also curious about filamentous algae.

Last year, sections of the pond I fish, had mats of the algae float to the surface, apparently buoyed by gasses trapped beneath.

The filamentous algae, by my observations only, starts out looking like moss on a rock, but it gets very long and whispy.  At some point, it turns a brown/maroon/purplish color.

Last year, in places, the trapped gas was obvious in the thinner mats.  The gas pocket caused part of the mat to look like a Cypress knee protruding above the surface.

It made sections of the pond unfishable with any type of lure.  

This year it has not developed to any of the latter stages.

It is however in the pond year round, unlike the blue.

The areas that have it are fishable, as long as you keep the bait off the bottom.

The mats of this muck are there year round.  The stuff does not seem to break down, or disappear like the blue/green algae.

Is the stuff dead, alive, or dormant during the colder weather?  

[Paul Roberts]

Although our first reaction is to think someone or something 'poisoned' the pond, more than likely this is a natural event. And it does not make you (us) feel any better, but Mother Nature has been doing this much longer than we have been trying to 'rescue' these ponds. The pond management folks will sell you whatever they can to 'fix' this naturally occuring event, I can assure you of that. However, biologists not in the pond fixing business more often than not cite the natural cycle of things as the cause of most small pond fish kills.

Assuming this is in fact a natural event I would not spend thousands of dollars for aeration products... Mother Nature trumps all that stuff. She always has and always will.

If you look around this pond you can see that Mother Nature is not the only influence here by a long shot. Assuming a human-made pond on a heavily human influenced landscape does not need human management is not recognizing that nature isn't all about bass fishing quality or lots of other potential interests.

At the same time, re-stocking a partial kill is not likely necessary. Knocking off some of the mouths that need to be fed can allow more food for the remainder. Problem here though is, if this happens every few years, this COULD represent a cap on age (and therefore size) of those fish. If this turned out to be an oxygen issue it could be affecting the larger fish first. If it's a localized (say leeward shore) problem (as in algae), then it's possible the pond can continue to produce quality fish.

You didn't say where you are at though is OKC Oklahoma? Those appear to be good sized sunfish they should feed good sized bass. A good sign. Four to 5lb bass might represent old fish in the north a good sign. In OK, I'm wondering what the likely growth should reach for say 8 -10 year old bass -6lbs? 8lbs? I duuno. Maybe the top end sizes indicate that age is compromised in that pond (despite periodic partial reductions). Anyway, just some stuff to chew on.

Here's some recent stuff on algae blloms and fish kills:

http://www.bigindianabass.typepad.com/

Scroll down to: Algae and Its Aftermath

[Cableman]

Where is that pond? Don't think I know that one. ;D