Author: Grant Shivley

While Ohio houses many types of fish in its variety of lakes, streams, and rivers, there are many fish that are housed in ponds that could potentially suffer from improper pond construction. Some of Ohio’s most popular sporting fish could be subjected to fish kills such as asphyxiation, disease, or poisoning.  Fish suffocation due to lack of oxygen is one of the more easily avoidable but potentially devastating to pond fish populations. Some Ohio fish that would be affected would be the Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Channel Catfish.

Since many ponds get their available dissolved oxygen from plants that perform photosynthesis and the air vegetation is key to maintaining a healthy pond ecosystem. Ironically, these plants can be the very cause of a winterkill. If the pond does not have a proper depth ratio the plants could die during the winter and start decomposing. The bacteria that is responsible for the decomposition use the oxygen available in the water. The longer and more severe the winter is the more likely that this will happen. This is more likely to occur in the northern most counties of Ohio because of the more frequent snowfall and severe winters because of the lake effect from Lake Erie.

Unfortunately, there is almost no way to tell if a winterkill has happened until possibly months after it has occurred. With a good log of water quality management, the cause can usually be determined. Some people are not able to control the construction of their pond but proper pond construction could potentially prevent a winterkill. A 3:1 gradient ratio and a proper depth of 10-12 feet that covers 25% of the pond floor can keep plants from taking root too far into the pond. Also good watershed management practices can stop extra nutrients from entering the pond, halting the growth of harmful algae’s.

Works Cited

Pond Management. ODNR Division of Wildlife (2012). Retrieved from http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/pond-management

In August, three Western Lake Erie tributaries experienced massive fish kills. The Ohio Division of Wildlife and Natural Resources have pinned the cause of these events on poor manure management. Allegedly manure was applied improperly or just before rain arrived, which washed the manure and all of its contaminants into the tributaries. Ammonia in manure takes Oxygen out of the water, which caused a combined 66,000 fish to die in these 3 rainfall events. These fish ranged from minnows to carp and littered the shores of Northwestern Ohio.

Figure 1: A deceased bass, effected by the manure-laden runoff.

 

Animal cultivation facilities in America produce 133 million tons of usable fertilizer from manure per year. In places where agriculture is extremely prominent, such as Ohio, water sources experience a great deal of runoff. Manure can have many harmful effects on fish of all kinds. Anoxic conditions and extremely high concentrations of ammonium are what these tributaries experienced. Other harmful effects include increased total phosphorus, which causes dramatic harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie annually, increased suspended solids, and fecal coliform bacteria throughout the water column. Agriculture and land use have greatly altered the Great Lakes Basin already, and the rate at which it is happening is alarming. But what can we do to help our local watersheds?

Figure 2: Harmful algal bloom caused by Agricultural runoff

 

The EPA already has laws in place that attempt to stop farmers from improper use of manure and irresponsible runoff controls. However, where agriculture is prominent, it’s not possible to eliminate these issues completely. In order to reduce runoff and properly handle unavoidable runoff, each aspect of a community must be involved. The government, farmers, convervationists, schools and Universites, businesses and organizations must each contribute if runoff pollution is to be mitigated. Fertilizer application must be monitored, ensuring that is used in the correct amount, at the right time of year, and that runoff controls are in place. Community events are highly effective, whether it is trash collection or planting trees alongside a stream, anyone can help. A reduction in field tilling can reduce erosion greatly, along with soil compaction. Proper drainage management by both private facilities and the Government is imperative to a watershed’s health. And lastly, strict monitoring of the disposal of livestock waste is obvious. It’s a group effort, and if each party involved carries their weight, each party will get to enjoy Ohio’s many waterways.

 

 

Works Cited

Burkholder, JoAnn, Bob Libra, Peter Weyer, Susan Heathcote, Dana Kolpin, Peter S. Thorne, and Michael Wichman. “Impacts of Waste from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations on Water Quality.” Environmental Health Perspectives. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Feb. 2007. Web.

“Easy Things to Protect Drinking Water Sources.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 02 Nov. 2016. Web.

“Large Fish Kills in Ohio Linked to Livestock Manure.” U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report, 24 Aug. 2017. Web.

“The Sources and Solutions: Agriculture.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 10 Mar. 2017. Web.