Controlling moss/ algae in pond

So I built this pond right at 1.5years ago when I first bought my property. Last year I did have much of a problem at all with algae. I’ve been away for work and neighbor informed me it’s covered in moss now. I blew up a pic to cut him out and hopefully it’s good enough to see whats going on in the background.

Any suggestions for controlling it would be much appreciated. I figure a can rake some out and prob be good for compost but looking for ideas to help clear and or prevent future issues like this.

Algae results from too many nutrients.
Can you identify any?
When you built the dam, was there much plant growth under the water area?

It's a beautiful pond, Joe! I've read that shade in the form of pond plants can help, but I think your pond is too large for that.

If there is no obvious source of extra nutrients, it may just be that the system is still reaching equilibrium.  It takes a while for a new pond to settle down.  This is only it's second summer.

Can nutrients be finding their was in from farms?

Yes in the bowl area it was pretty much solid cockleburrs but that was dug down many feet until bedrock was hit. The area where the water flows in is very shallow so probably 1.5acres of 1-4ft of water which is still tree covered / grass / cockleburr. There is a few smaller patches of cattails spaced around here and there.

The pond is in a flood zone and catches runoff from everywhere so it’s highly likely that fertilizer is washing in from other fields.

Using corn gluten meal keeps popping up in searches but it’s just people suggesting it with no explanation to how or why it works. The other one is chemical or tilapia. I’d rather not put tilapia as they will die when water temp drops I’m pretty sure. I never took water temp but I feel almost certain it will get below 60 in winter. Heck the thing froze over this freak winter we had

Also I didn’t clearly stated but I don’t want to put chem in there. Here’s what it look like before. Google earth hasn’t updated to show current view.

On left side of this line no ground was disturbed. Honestly I had no idea it would back up this far or I’d have dug the bowl more.

So at that line it’s approx 4ft and gently goes to 3-2-1 as you go left

placing a straw bail in the pond might help. the straw has an enzyme  that will get rid of the algae and not harm the fish. i dont know if it will be effective for the moss though.

regards Phil

So have you turned a wetland into a shallow lake?

Did you survey what was going to happen, if its shallow it may be heating and it may never be much good.

Originally water just flowed right through to a creek on the next property. Wasn’t even muddy when I buy the place it held nothing. The bowl area is about 12’ deep.

No survey was done I’ve never heard of anyone doing that?? Now half the pond is a deep wetland I’d say. The ducks love it. 25-30 fly in and mostly hang out in that shallow area that has tree cover.

If schedules and weather coordinate I intend to make the bowl about 3x bigger but we missed our chance last year. This year we’ve gotten more steady rain so I don’t expect that area to dry out enough to get equipment in there. I don’t really want to pump water out at the moment to undertake this

Phil Grady wrote:placing a straw bail in the pond might help. the straw has an enzyme  that will get rid of the algae and not harm the fish. i dont know if it will be effective for the moss though.

regards Phil

I heard something similar about using barley straw (I don't know why barley!)  According topondinformer the process is a bit more complex than I'd thought.  You have to add enough straw to control the algae, but not so much you kill the fish.

Surveying the water level can save drives, fence lines where its necessary.