I am looking at a property with a ~1 acre pond/tank. It is 100% covered with algae. From looking back at historical aerials, it appears it is this way every year. The pond shows up in those aerials back to the 1960's. It never seemed to have this issue until after the major 2011 drought (which it didn't appear to fully dry up).

Is this something simple to fix? I have never deal with something like this. From internet reading, it talks about dyes, copper sulfate and even installing aeration pumps? I could deal with a simple fix like copper sulfate. But, I don't want to have to install a pump or any other drastic measure.

Just wondering if anyone knows a likely cause and what the fix would be. There has been no fertilizing or changes to waste/runoff per the current owner.

Thanks in advance.

https://imgur.com/a/8xrewwG

Thanks. This pond is in the middle of a very sparsely populated area with no feedlots or anything like that around. Just normal cattle pasture with normal stocking rates, from what I can tell.

Verify it's algae, not some sort of floating vegetation, and if algae, copper sulfate is a easy treatment.
I have applied it as a spray, also distributed as crystals.

Windmill aerator

Does not need a feedlot, just small changes in where the cows are crapping.

If there hasn't been a good exchange of water the nutrient load can easily cause an algae bloom.

Where is it and what's the depth profile look like?

Also , what is the vegetation? Could be filimentous algae … could be duckweed or anything else

If it's matted and floating in clumps it's most
Likely filamentous algae that grows on bottom but rises to the top because of entrained gasses - largely oxygen.

If it's in an area where the water temp stays above 45 F or so then the guy that suggested tilapia is spot on. They will eat it and also provide great forage for bass . Some will get big as well. They will die if the water temp drops below 45 or so tho. Maybe not a huge deal because you can restock after winter is over , they won't be super expensive for a 1 acre pond . You might only need 20-25 adult tilapia. Under $100 excluding transport which you can do yourself in plastic bags charged with oxygen. My experience is with Mozambique tilapia which you can stock in a private pond in TX without a permit. I believe blue tilapia are more cold tolerant than Mozambiques but I think you do need a permit for those and the price may be higher as well.

I would bet that the pond is pretty shallow. Do you have any idea how deep it is?

I think it was actually algae as opposed to duck weed. The pond is in Grimes County. I had the same thought about it being shallow. I am assuming the real fix here is probably a clean out? I think that could get expensive because the dam is right on the fence line. In discussing with a friend with a dozer business, he said a clean out would involve loading and hauling mud and spreading in the pasture because dumping it over the dam would not work because the mud could run 100-200ft and go over on the neighbors property.

I don't know if grass carp will eat whatever you have but I can tell you I learned the hard way to not overdo it with the carp if you ever use those. They will take too much vegetation out and take your water from crystal clear to muddy if you use too many. And they are extremely hard to get rid of! I finally resorted to having to sneak up to the bank in the mornings and get them with a shotgun when they surfaced. It took a long time to get rid of them.

I'd darn sure try the tilapia before a total clean out for a few reasons including it's a lot less work and expense and also it won't wipe out the existing fish population. Even if it doesn't achieve your goals it would make a future clean out easier.

Just curious - how much would y'all try to negotiate off the price to deal with this? A lack of a pond (or site to build a pond) is important to me.

I'd get a contractor to give a rough estimate to get the pond /dam in top flight condition plus restocking costs and subtract that off the price you'd have offered for the property otherwise.

SGrem said:

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Get a manatee...your welcome.

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How big?

Thanks. Yes, I was thinking the same. Actually didn't think about the restocking costs though. Good point.

Doubt you'll be able to discount the price/value much, if any, in the mind of the owner, for this problem, that can be corrected in expensively. Don't overthink it

Copper sulfate is a pretty easy treatment and has worked well for us. We have two ponds. One is a little under an acre, and the other is maybe a half acre. We used a nurse tank and a pump and sprayed on the surface.

A much bigger problem might be keeping it full. I have two similar size ponds in Washington county and one is dry and the other is at record low. Its hard to understand runoff until you spend some time there.
Algae treatment after you id the problem is pretty easy via DIY chemicals and mechanical means. Agree that the landowner is not likely to consider this something to base a discount on.

Seller may or may not agree with a price reduction due to less than optimal pond conditions. At the end of the day he's got his price he wants and he may not part with the property for less than that but it's still something to consider in an offer especially for a guy that clearly values a quality pond . If he doesn't then you either concede or start looking at other properties.

Lining the pond bottom with bentonite and having a water well for makeup water are potential mitigators.