Cynthia, answers to you questions might partly depend on where your pond is located.
But, in my experience, in my locality, a heavy growth of duckweed usually means that there may be some nutrient imbalance. Does your pond receive runoff from a fertilized pasture or other source of excess nutrients? So far as removal, skimming is about as good as any. In some cases, establishment of other aquatic macrophytes that can utilize the nutrients can help through competition. Your pond is pretty good sized. Does it have fish in it? Generally, ponds with healthy fish populations fish do not produce a lot of mosquitoes. If there are native fish in nearby bodies of water, placing some of the same species in the pond is likely to reduce a mosquito problem. Some species are better mosquito predators than others. If there is a _Gambusia_ species native to the local watershed, then that would be an excellent candidate. However, I would not fall prey to the practice of many public health departments and "mosquito abatement districts" of stocking _Gambusia_ outside its native range. Good luck, David McNeely ---- Cynthia Ross <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear all, > > I am a marine biologist and as such do not know much about maintaining a > fresh water pond. Our pond is approximately 3/4 to 1 acre and has recently > been covered by duck weed. I have not been able to locate any natural ways > to remove it other than skimming. I am only concerned that the duckweed will > harm the other life in the pond if it is too dense. I would also be > interested in finding natural ways to combat mosquitos. > > Thank you, > CR -- David McNeely
