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Winter Pondering
Around here we are asked many interesting questions about ponds in winter. So grab your hot chocolate, warm blanket and read about some winter ponderings.
1. How do I know when my ice is safe for skating on?
Great question. Here is the general rule, but exercise caution when determing how many people can safely be on the ice. From Tim Madson`s book Earthponds Sourcebook, he says 2" is thick enough for one person, 4" for a group of up to 12 people, 6" for snowmobile or snowblower and 10-12" for a truck with a plow. Depth isn`t the only factor to consider, thick ice can become rotten after many days covered with thick & heavy wet snow when temperatures rise above 0, or after many sunny, windy, warm days in Spring. Always check ice thickness before heading out onto your pond. Keep your ice cleared of snow, so it continues to thicken over the season and always have a lightweight ladder or innertube attached to secured rope, that can be quickly thrown to someone who may fall through the ice..jpg)
2. What should I do with my aerator system in the winter time?
This depends on if you skate on your pond or not. We recommend turning off any aeration device if you want to skate anywhere on your pond. If the disconnected aeration cabinet is in a heated building just leave the system installed, but if it is in danger of freezing, simply detach the compressor and store it in a warm, dry location for the winter.
3.We are considering installing a pond side sauna. Any advice?
From what we know the location of a sauna is directly related to its usage, so generally speaking, the further away it is from the house, the less it will be used. Presumably one in the home is easier to run and access than one down by the pond that has no electricity. But for the full experience of sauna, I think the outdoor one by the pond can`t be beat. It means a trip away from the house, a transition to relaxation, a journey through interesting weather and more of a connection to the stars, to the moon and nature. And if you are a die-hard sauna freak, you could install one of our dock de-icers to keep your dipping hole ice free, for those fun icy polar bear dips. We would love to hear about your pond sauna stories. Maybe we should sell pond side sauna kits?
4. Purchase and install your Danger Thin Ice sign around your pond if you chose to aerate your pond during the winter.
5. What is happening in my pond under the ice?
Lots of creatures are dormant in winter, frogs, leeches, insects, salamanders, snakes, turtles and newts all burrow in the mud or earth in and around the pond. Fish need a deep pond for survival since there is more available oxygen for them under the ice when the pond is deep. Beavers and muskrat are active in winter as are the mink and otter creatures (please excuse the pun). Although your pond may seem dormant, there is still alot going on there. Check it out! You`ll see good animal tracks on the pond surface. Please send photos!