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Lake and Pond Guides

Plain-language guides to water quality, fish, weeds and muck for lake, reservoir and pond owners in Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming.

Water quality and algae

  1. 01Water Quality 101Oxygen, temperature, pH, alkalinity and the other basics in plain language.
  2. 02NutrientsHow phosphorus and nitrogen feed algae and weeds, and how to manage them.
  3. 03Harmful Algae BloomsHow to recognize toxic algae and keep people, pets and livestock away from it.

Fish and fish habitat

  1. 04Fish Species GuideWhich fish fit lakes and ponds in Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming, and what each one needs.
  2. 05Lake Fish StockingHow many fish to stock and which species do well together.
  3. 06Fish Habitat GuideCover, structure and spawning areas that grow healthier fish.
  4. 07Fish Kill GuideWhat to do in the first few hours after finding dead fish, and how to narrow down the cause.

Aquatic plants, muck and sediment

  1. 08Duckweed on LakesWhy duckweed and watermeal cover a bay, and what keeps them down.
  2. 09Cattails on Lake ShorelinesHow cattails spread along a shoreline and how to hold them to a set edge.
  3. 10Lake MuckWhat the soft black layer on the bottom is and how to reduce it.
  4. 11Lake DredgingHow lakes are dredged, what permits usually apply, and when another option fits better.
  5. 12Bathymetric Lake SurveysHow a depth survey maps a lake bottom, water volume and sediment.

Questions about your water?

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