Milton webinar offers practical pond-management advice on stocking, dredging and aeration

Ranger Jen Young of the City of Milton opened a City of Milton Parks & Recreation webinar called "Wildlife 101" and invited residents to ask questions about ponds and small lakes in Milton.

The session featured lake-management consultant Greg Grimes, who told attendees that conventional ideas about “clear water” and stocking are often misleading. "The first myth is that I want my water to be really clear," Grimes said, adding that clearer water can mean low plankton production and lower fish yields. He described green-tinted water measured with a Secchi disk as often supporting far more fish than crystal-clear water.

The webinar aimed to give practical, locally relevant guidance to pond owners. Young, who said she connects Milton residents with outdoor recreation and manages the city’s environmental-education offerings, framed the session as a chance to answer frequently asked resident questions about personal ponds and the city’s small lakes.

Grimes discussed several common pond problems and remedies. On clarity and fertilization he warned that routine use of lake dye and…