SMETHPORT — Penn State Extension Educator, Jim Clark and Penn State Watershed Specialist, Bryan Swistock, presented a class on pond management for pond owners in North Central Pennsylvania on May 26 at the North Fork Dam Recreation Area in Potter County.
Eighteen pond owners participated representing 18 acres of ponds and lakes in North Central Pennsylvania and 94 percent stated that they gained new information and 82 percent stated they would take action to improve their own pond because they attended.
The two instructors covered the importance of doing annual inspections and assessments of ponds to try and identify invasive species early to control them before they spread and become uncontrollable.
The value of using the Penn State Water Lab Pond Test Kit was also discussed and the aggregate data of the 410 ponds already tested at the lab was shared. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Potter County Conservation District and the new Potter County Watershed Specialist, Jared Dickerson, took part in the seminar.
