[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

I agree. Fish kill like that in the picture means excess chemicals probably put in directly to the lake - not just lawn chemicals seeping in from yards on the lake. And I agree that the best answer for less chemicals for all Villages residents is rock yards. Also the newer Astro Turf MAY be thicker and designed to last many years in a yard. As I have said before if the residents were bound by NO requirement for grass lawns, probably 70% of the residents would choose natural grass and 30% would go for stone or Astro Turf. The end result would be less water use, which would be good for ALL residents. Most residents here believe in the concept of fewer regulations, but the reality is strangely opposite.

While lawns aren't my personal preference, I wouldn't begrudge people of their lawns. They're popular. However we need more options than just grass. People all have grass (except in villas) because it's required, whether they like it or not.

If we could add rock beds, or cactus beds, or ground cover that doesn't require all that maintenance, then the amount of fertilizer/pesticide/weedkiller/fungicide would be reduced - and that might be enough to solve the problem.

I'm all for more options rather than more restrictions.

[Sabella]

Originally Posted by Miboater

Did this happen after a heavy rain? It occurs often when there is a rain when the cooler rain water sinks to the bottom and makes the warmer oxygen depleted to rise and suffocate the fish.

Heavy rain? When?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Sabella

Heavy rain? When?

Nearly an inch of rain in about an hour on April 2. Felt pretty heavy at the time.

[Topgun 1776]

Originally Posted by Yale VP

GF of mine that lives up near Chula Vista sent me several pics of hundreds of dead fish floating and dead on shore of a 5 acre village lake near Spanish Springs. All the neighborhood residents were out there complaining about the mass kill. Some of the pics of all the fish just floating dead looks like something out of a move. But why kill all the fish and leave them to rot? She says it smells horrible and the fish are huge, not to mention turtles and other wildlife.

First...this has NOTHING to do with water treatment. NO ONE dumps chemicals in a large mass amount into a pond - from a boat or otherwise - to treat it. These companies are highly regulated and monitored by the FL DEQ. Very large fines would definitely be the result if they did. It would also be a horrific waste of money for the treatment company and there is no reason anyone would want to do it. I get it. There a lot of environmental zealots that make stories up to fit their agenda. But, saying someone treating the pond did this is a complete and utter fabrication.

Plain truth - Water levels get low in a very shallow pond. So does the oxygen in the water. Temps rise and compound the problem. The fish can't survive. It's that simple and it's nature. This happens in other shallow ponds in the same shape all around the world, not just The Villages. Remember this - the shallower the pond, the more likely this will occur.

Reality - f we don't get more rain to raise the water levels before Summer really hits - you are going to see a lot more fish kills across all of the shallower ponds in The Villages. Get ready for more fish kills.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by Topgun 1776

First...this has NOTHING to do with water treatment. NO ONE dumps chemicals in a large mass amount into a pond - from a boat or otherwise - to treat it. These companies are highly regulated and monitored by the FL DEQ. Very large fines would definitely be the result if they did. It would also be a horrific waste of money for the treatment company and there is no reason anyone would want to do it. I get it. There a lot of environmental zealots that make stories up to fit their agenda. But, saying someone treating the pond did this is a complete and utter fabrication.

Plain truth - Water levels get low in a very shallow pond. So does the oxygen in the water. Temps rise and compound the problem. The fish can't survive. It's that simple and it's nature. This happens in other shallow ponds in the same shape all around the world, not just The Villages. Remember this - the shallower the pond, the more likely this will occur.

Reality - f we don't get more rain to raise the water levels before Summer really hits - you are going to see a lot more fish kills across all of the shallower ponds in The Villages. Get ready for more fish kills.

Kill the weeds, kill the oxygen levels in the water. Weeds love shallow ponds which of course every retention pond is. The more sunlight that hits that bottom the better weeds flourish. If you kill the weeds you eventually end up killing the fish.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Topgun 1776

These companies are highly regulated and monitored by the FL DEQ.

Plain truth - Water levels get low in a very shallow pond. So does the oxygen in the water. Temps rise and compound the problem.

I've always thought one of the problems with the way TV has designed ponds, is the lack of depth, shallow edges and lack of aeration. The more shallow a pond is and the more gradual the side slopes at the edges, the harder they are to maintain.

I get there's a balance between safety and side slopes, but gradual side slopes and shallow depths, are problematic.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Pondboy

It is sad that the habitats are destroyed, but it was built to be a stormwater retention pond, not a wildlife refuge. Excessive vegetation over the years reduces the water holding capacity of the ponds. Not to mention that the vegetation does not work well with pumps and mechanisms that are designed move water about.

There no pumps in that pond. when it was built it didn’t displace water by soaking into ground they pumped water for 1/4 mile to nearest street drain that was connected pumping system, when the finely got water out redone pond with more sand. basically the done cheap job built bunch houses in and done even worse job on street drains and roads the then dumped on district. Street drains was done over and the streets again all costing district.

[Pondboy]

Originally Posted by Topgun 1776

First...this has NOTHING to do with water treatment. NO ONE dumps chemicals in a large mass amount into a pond - from a boat or otherwise - to treat it. These companies are highly regulated and monitored by the FL DEQ. Very large fines would definitely be the result if they did. It would also be a horrific waste of money for the treatment company and there is no reason anyone would want to do it. I get it. There a lot of environmental zealots that make stories up to fit their agenda. But, saying someone treating the pond did this is a complete and utter fabrication.

Plain truth - Water levels get low in a very shallow pond. So does the oxygen in the water. Temps rise and compound the problem. The fish can't survive. It's that simple and it's nature. This happens in other shallow ponds in the same shape all around the world, not just The Villages. Remember this - the shallower the pond, the more likely this will occur.

Reality - f we don't get more rain to raise the water levels before Summer really hits - you are going to see a lot more fish kills across all of the shallower ponds in The Villages. Get ready for more fish kills.

Actually, it is the way that the ponds are maintained. Ponds are treated via boat to combat Submersed Aquatic Vegetation (hydrilla) as well as algae blooms. ATV’s are equipped with spray mechanisms that disperse chemicals into the pond to do the same.

You are correct, that it’s highly regulated.

[Pondboy]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I've always thought one of the problems with the way TV has designed ponds, is the lack of depth, shallow edges and lack of aeration. The more shallow a pond is and the more gradual the side slopes at the edges, the harder they are to maintain.

I get there's a balance between safety and side slopes, but gradual side slopes and shallow depths, are problematic.

You are correct, the bigger the pond and the deeper it is, helps maintain a consistent water quality. Shallow edges promote weed growth, especially when the water levels recede and more of the embankment is exposed.

Shallow sides benefits ; (my guess) reduces erosion when pond water is low and it’s easier to install and maintain the liner. It’s also beneficial for the wildlife to enter and exit the pond.

[Pondboy]

Originally Posted by Normal

Kill the weeds, kill the oxygen levels in the water. Weeds love shallow ponds which of course every retention pond is. The more sunlight that hits that bottom the better weeds flourish. If you kill the weeds you eventually end up killing the fish.

To a certain extent yes. If one was to treat a small pond with a lot of submersed vegetation, you would only treat half and then come back in another month or so and treat the other half. This helps reduce the risk of a fish kill.

[KenLee100]

Originally Posted by Yale VP

GF of mine that lives up near Chula Vista sent me several pics of hundreds of dead fish floating and dead on shore of a 5 acre village lake near Spanish Springs. All the neighborhood residents were out there complaining about the mass kill. Some of the pics of all the fish just floating dead looks like something out of a move. But why kill all the fish and leave them to rot? She says it smells horrible and the fish are huge, not to mention turtles and other wildlife.

TV Customer Service
352.753.4508

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by Pondboy

Actually they (the contractors) do take each pond on a case by case basis for treatment. There the ones that have to clean up the dead fish.

There are labeling guidelines and state laws that dictate how much of each chemical can be used in treating ponds. It’s based on surface area (and depth) of the pond. There are also laws that dictate how many times a chemical can be added to a pond in a given month and year.

Those spraying from the boat don't care what happens to the fish, they send a bank crew out to do the cleanup, it happened to our pond twice. They also don't re-calculate the size and depth of the pond each time they show up, they don't really care, if it's a windy day the little boat is pushed to one side of the pond and they try to reach the other but the wind pushes it all to one side. There used to be 2 men in the boat, on running and steering with the motor and the other spraying, for the last several years they only have one in the boat and he cannot control it and spray at the same time. In closing, they don't take each pond on a case by case, maybe they are supposed to but they don't and no one checks up on them.

[Topgun 1776]

Lack of "weeds" has absolutely nothing to do with it. I am from the South and lived extensively in 5 States with communities that utilize retention ponds a great deal. I've seen hundreds of fish kills. Low water levels mean less oxygen. Add warmer water and viola! You have the holy trinity for a fish kill. Yes, some "weeds" are good for fish. But lack of them is far down the list for fish dying.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by Topgun 1776

Lack of "weeds" has absolutely nothing to do with it. I am from the South and lived extensively in 5 States with communities that utilize retention ponds a great deal. I've seen hundreds of fish kills. Low water levels mean less oxygen. Add warmer water and viola! You have the holy trinity for a fish kill. Yes, some "weeds" are good for fish. But lack of them is far down the list for fish dying.

Volume matters. If you couple the sudden and quick kill of your weeds in a low volume pond like the ponds in the Villages, you will have dead fish. The larger volume lakes permit diffusion to allow fish to acclimate to the change in oxygen because there is less shock to the ecosystem.

[Cliff Fr]

Its the price that's paid for keeping lawns green