Debunking pond water quality myths focus of July 22 webinar
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program to dispel myths related to water quality
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present the webinar “Pond Management Myth Busting 101: Water Quality” from 6-7:30 p.m. on July 22. The event is a component of the agency’s AquaExtension programming.
The cost is $35, and advanced registration is required at https://tx.ag/PondMythBusting. Following registration, an email will be sent with instructions on how to access the webinar.
The featured speaker will be Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and director of the AgriLife Extension Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory, Bryan-College Station.
Sink is also an associate professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management.
About the webinar
Sink said it can be difficult to dispel long-held, pervasive myths related to pond management, so the webinar will focus on the science and reasoning behind correct management strategies.
“Many times, pond management misinformation is handed down from generation to generation,” he said. “The proliferation of incorrect information on the internet is also a big issue. Many people don’t know how to seek out science-based practices recommended by universities, state and federal agencies, or extension programming.”
The webinar will focus specifically on debunking myths related to water quality, including but not limited to:
- Clear pond water equates to good and productive water quality.
- You can clear a pond with Sheetrock.
- Ponds require an aerator.
- Using well water to fill a pond is acceptable.
- A newly dug pond filled with rainwater doesn’t require a water quality test.
- You can seal a leaking pond with barley straw or hay.
Ultimately, Sink said implementing management actions guided by science-backed information will save landowners time and money while ensuring the health of the pond and the livestock and wildlife that use it.
A 30-minute Q&A session will conclude the webinar.
For questions or additional event details, contact Brittany Chesser, AgriLife Extension aquatic vegetation management program specialist and lead diagnostic scientist at the Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory, at [email protected].
