Beacon May 2023
Your hometown news source. Regional Reach. Community Commitment. Covering Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, and Ripley Counties in Southeast Indiana and Southwest Ohio.
Your hometown news source. Regional Reach. Community Commitment. Covering Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, and Ripley Counties in Southeast Indiana and Southwest Ohio.
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Page 12A THE BEACON <strong>May</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
By<br />
Jeff<br />
Hermesch<br />
Purdue<br />
Extension<br />
jhermesch@purdue.edu<br />
Spring Pond<br />
“Weed” Management<br />
Now that spring is here, it<br />
is time to control the aquatic<br />
weed issues that you may<br />
have experienced in previous<br />
years. Vegetation in a pond<br />
is not necessarily a bad thing<br />
contrary to popular belief.<br />
Aquatic plants will add the<br />
essential food and oxygen to<br />
your pond that the aquatic<br />
life residing in your pond requires.<br />
Some of these “good”<br />
weeds live under the water’s<br />
surface and therefore are not<br />
a visual issue. The issue that<br />
is the greatest frustration for<br />
pond owners is not a weed at<br />
all. It is filamentous algae.<br />
Filamentous algae is a<br />
fibrous mat that is not visually<br />
appealing once it starts<br />
floating on the pond’s surface<br />
and is often referred to as a<br />
“bloom” due to its appearing<br />
almost overnight. This type<br />
of algae starts its growth cycle<br />
on the bottom of the pond<br />
and as it grows, it builds<br />
oxygen under its fibrous mat<br />
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and eventually floats to the<br />
surface. In the beginning, a<br />
few mats will appear and in<br />
a matter of days, the entire<br />
pond could be covered. The<br />
complaints I hear the most<br />
are that it looks bad, it is<br />
gross to use for swimming<br />
and fishing becomes more<br />
difficult when the algae snags<br />
hooks and lines. If this nuisance<br />
is left untreated it can<br />
become a real issue for the<br />
pond and the cause of major<br />
headaches.<br />
So, the obvious question is,<br />
“How do I kill it?” Unfortunately,<br />
this question is usually<br />
asked too late because<br />
once it floats to the surface it<br />
is very difficult, if not impossible<br />
to treat as it is already<br />
in the process of dying. The<br />
key time frame to controlling<br />
filamentous algae is when it<br />
is growing on the bottom of<br />
the pond. Control is possible<br />
with a multifaceted approach<br />
including mechanical, chemical,<br />
biological, and structural<br />
strategies.<br />
The best form of mechanical<br />
control is to remove it<br />
with a rake and pull it out<br />
from the pond. The best time<br />
to do this is on a windy day<br />
so Mother Nature works in<br />
your favor and will help blow<br />
the floating algae to one area<br />
of the pond. Once removed,<br />
do not leave the mats on the<br />
pond bank because the nutrients<br />
will flow back into the<br />
pond which aids in the next<br />
cycle of growth. You can also<br />
drag a rake on the bottom of<br />
the pond close to shore to<br />
break up mats and make them<br />
come to the surface quicker.<br />
Copper-based chemicals<br />
typically work well on<br />
filamentous algae although<br />
once it comes to the surface<br />
it is a waste of time, money,<br />
and energy to treat. Chemical<br />
application works best<br />
when filamentous algae first<br />
appear on the pond bottom<br />
and before they form large<br />
floating mats. Chemical<br />
application will also work<br />
after the physical removal of<br />
mats both floating and on the<br />
bottom of the pond. Caution<br />
should be taken when<br />
treating with chemicals to<br />
prevent fish kills. Treating<br />
only a quarter of the pond at<br />
a time will prevent the loss of<br />
oxygen in the water which in<br />
turn could kill your fish.<br />
Reducing runoff from your<br />
landscape or surrounding<br />
land will help reduce algae as<br />
it requires nutrients (especially<br />
phosphorus) for growth.<br />
Most homeowners make<br />
the mistake of fertilizing<br />
their lawns in the spring and<br />
excess nutrients end up in the<br />
pond which is the cause of<br />
the blooms. Fertilize in the<br />
fall if possible, to avoid this<br />
issue.<br />
A purchase that all pond<br />
owners should make is that<br />
of an aerator. An aerator (not<br />
a fountain) will add oxygen<br />
to the water and the best type<br />
is a diffuser which forces<br />
air from the bottom up to<br />
the surface. Adding oxygen<br />
to the bottom layers of the<br />
pond can encourage phosphorous<br />
to bind within pond<br />
sediments. This prevents<br />
phosphorous from becoming<br />
available within the water<br />
column for algae use and<br />
growth.<br />
Finally, keep Canada Geese<br />
off of your pond. They might<br />
be fun to watch, but they are<br />
dirty and can make the water<br />
quality poor, especially in<br />
smaller ponds. Their manure<br />
is high in phosphorus, so just<br />
like spring fertilization of<br />
your lawns. It adds unwanted<br />
nutrients to your pond which<br />
encourages algae growth.<br />
Many ponds suffer from<br />
filamentous algae problems.<br />
Where possible, you should<br />
strive to reduce nutrients<br />
entering the pond to prevent<br />
or reduce excessive algae<br />
growth. Chemical treatments<br />
for algae are inexpensive and<br />
effective but usually must be<br />
repeated annually or even<br />
multiple times per year to<br />
M<br />
DEAR<br />
ARIE<br />
By<br />
Marie<br />
Segale<br />
marie@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Dear Marie,<br />
I have been divorced for<br />
several years. The courts<br />
ordered my ex-spouse to pay<br />
child support. Previously,<br />
he would send a payment<br />
of $200 every so often, but<br />
last year I only received one<br />
payment from him. This was<br />
a larger sum and not like his<br />
normal behavior at all.<br />
I also received his tax<br />
refund, probably because he<br />
was in arrears on his support<br />
payments for ten years. I<br />
understand that so long as he<br />
makes some payment, there<br />
is nothing I can do to collect<br />
the outstanding child support<br />
from him.<br />
I have not attempted to<br />
go back to court because<br />
the services of a lawyer are<br />
required, and I do not have<br />
the funds for a $5000 retainer<br />
to reopen the case. As a single<br />
mom working forty-plus<br />
keep algae under control.<br />
If you have questions about<br />
your pond, please contact me<br />
for answers. I can be reached<br />
by email at jhermesch@<br />
purdue.edu or by phone at<br />
812-926-1189. The Dearborn<br />
County Extension Office is<br />
located at 229 Main Street,<br />
Aurora, IN 47001.<br />
Look for my next article in<br />
the June issue of The <strong>Beacon</strong>!<br />
hours a week, I still struggle<br />
to make ends meet. I need to<br />
find a way to obtain the child<br />
support that the court ordered.<br />
If some help is available, it’s<br />
a matter of finding what and<br />
where.<br />
My children’s father makes<br />
no effort to see or contact<br />
them, even on birthdays or<br />
Christmas. Marie, I need<br />
some help. What do you<br />
think I should do?<br />
Elizabeth in Batesville<br />
Dear Elizabeth,<br />
You are not alone. Too<br />
many parents are facing this<br />
situation. Sadly, children are<br />
the innocent victims of adults’<br />
bad behavior.<br />
Child support orders are<br />
legal obligations to provide<br />
financial support for a child<br />
and and are established by the<br />
court. Child support obligations<br />
in Indiana are governed<br />
by the Indiana Child Support<br />
Rules and Guidelines that can<br />
be found at https://www.in.gov/<br />
courts/rules/child_support/.<br />
I found a website which<br />
might be a good place to learn<br />
about available help: www.<br />
Indianalegalhelp.org<br />
Another resource about collecting<br />
child support is www.<br />
usa.gov.<br />
Have a pressing issue?<br />
Contact Marie@goBEACON<br />
news.com<br />
POSITION OPENINGS - Dearborn County Highway Dept<br />
Competitive Pay with Generous Benefit Package<br />
Dearborn County will SPONSOR CDL training to those hired and commit to 3-year position.<br />
Maintenance Worker – 3 Positions Available<br />
$20.17 per hour<br />
Operates various trucks and heavy equipment in clearing, maintaining, and repairing County roads, ditches, and rights-of-way.<br />
CDL Required<br />
Special Projects Assistant Crew Leader<br />
$22.74 per hour<br />
Supervise and direct work crews in construction and maintenance of special projects, including bridges, small structures, culverts, guardrails, and retaining walls.<br />
Extensive experience in highway construction and maintenance.<br />
CDL Required.<br />
Head Mechanic<br />
$21.40 per hour<br />
Responsible for maintenance and repair of Department vehicles and equipment.<br />
Operates a variety of machinery, maintains road safety in winter months.<br />
CDL Required.<br />
Highway (winter)/Park Maintenance (summer)Worker<br />
Starting wage: $17 per hour<br />
Responsible for cleaning and maintaining park grounds/buildings, including mowing, landscaping, snow removal and restroom maintenance.<br />
Performs minor repairs to signs, exhibits and other park property including minor electrical and plumbing work.<br />
Operates a variety of machinery, maintains road safety in winter months.<br />
See website for full list of DUTIES and REQUIREMENTS<br />
www.dearborncounty.org<br />
Send resume/application to Sue Hayden at shayden@dearborncounty.in.gov<br />
Applications may be obtained on website or at 165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025<br />
The BEACON - Great News for Great People.
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