LONDON, Ohio – Controlling aquatic vegetation, such as harmful algal blooms, can be the biggest challenge when it comes to managing a pond for fishing, swimming or other recreational use.
Come to Ohio State University's Farm Science Review and learn what a fish management specialist would do to manage his own private pond.
Bill Lynch, an Ohio State University Extension associate in aquatic ecosystem management, will present, "If It Were My Pond, I Would…." at the Gwynne Conservation Area Sept. 21 from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and Sept. 22 from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Farm Science Review will take place Sept. 21-23 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.
Attendees can get to the Gwynne by catching the free shuttles at the west end of the exhibitor grounds.
"Excessive aquatic vegetation is what causes all of the headaches for pond owners," said Lynch. "It's the most challenging aspect of pond management because of all of the excess nutrients that end up in the water."
Lynch said that cattails, filamentous algae and harmful algal blooms are some of the more common aquatic surface vegetation found in ponds.
"I'll be educating folks on how I would deal with that aquatic vegetation, how much I'd tolerate and what I would not tolerate," said Lynch. "For example, I tell people that submerged plants, like pond weeds, are good for fish diversity. Bass and bluegill didn't evolve in a bathtub. "
In addition to fish management, Lynch will touch on other issues, such as Canada geese and muskrat management, for a more balanced aquatic system.
Lynch's presentation is just one of 25 educational sessions taking place at the Gwynne Conservation Area during Farm Science Review. For a complete schedule, log on to http://fsr.osu.edu/schedulegwynne.html.
Farm Science Review is sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. It attracts upwards of 140,000 visitors from all over the country and Canada, who come for three days to peruse 4,000 product lines from 600 commercial exhibitors, and learn the latest in agricultural research, conservation, family and nutrition, and gardening and landscape.
Farm Science Review pre-show tickets are now on sale for $5 at all OSU Extension county offices. Tickets will also be available at local agribusinesses. Tickets are $8 at the gate. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21-22 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23.
For more information, log on to http://fsr.osu.edu. For the latest news and updates, follow Farm Science Review on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/OhioStateFSR), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/FarmScienceReview), and Ning (http://fsrosu.ning.com).