Brush pile near pond

[bikerdib]

After seeing the pics, if it were me, I'd burn it where it is. Unless your pond has a really low PH (alkaline) I doubt it will hurt the pond. Also, from the size of the ditch you aren't likely to get a large inflow of ash at one time anyway because it doesn't appear to ever have a large flow of water. You could go to walmart or any store that sells swimming pool supplies and buy some water test strips to check the water PH. Who knows, your pond may be acidic anyway and then the ash would actually be good for the water.

 

[SouthernSooner]

I would burn it where it sets,we actually burn in the draw heading towards the pond every year. We take all the dead trees/limbs from the pasture all year,safest place for us to burn. Hasn't harmed fishing never any kills,the big burnt trees will end up under water if get a lot of rain and will wait until it goes down and stack more on top try get burned down.
View attachment 442155 looks like will have to pull this one back floated down from all the rain had in june

That looks almost exactly like my ditch leading to the pond! Your pond shape and pasture is almost a near match!

 

[smstonypoint]

You could go to walmart or any store that sells swimming pool supplies and buy some water test strips to check the water PH. Who knows, your pond may be acidic anyway and then the ash would actually be good for the water.

Out of curiosity (and too much free time), I Googled "optimum pond water pH" and found this:

pH is a measure of whether water is acidic or basic. Fish have an average blood pH of 7.4, so pond water with a pH close to this is optimum. An acceptable range would be 6.5 to 9.0. Fish can become stressed in water with a pH ranging from 4.0 to 6.5 and 9.0 to 11.0. Fish growth is limited in water pH less than 6.5, and reproduction ceases and fry can die at pH less than 5.0. Death is almost certain at a pH of less than 4.0 or greater than 11.0. Pond water pH fluctuates throughout the day due to photosynthesis and respiration by plants and vertebrates. Typically, pH is highest at dusk and lowest at dawn. This is because nighttime respiration increases carbon dioxide concentrations that interact with water producing carbonic acid and lowering pH. This can limit the ability of fish blood to carry oxygen.

Fish Pond Water Quality: As Simple as Chemistry 101

Steve

 

[SouthernSooner]

Out of curiosity (and too much free time), I Googled "optimum pond water pH" and found this:



Steve

Great info, thanks!

 

[bikerdib]

I try to take care of my fishies. I keep the PH around 7.0 (with normal fluctuations). My soil is acidic (lots of clay) so I have used lime in the pond. I'm thinking about keeping the ashes from my wood stove to use instead of lime. So, like I said previously, the OP may want to check his water. The ash from burning the wood pile may be beneficial to the pond anyway. The onlh way to make sure would be to test the water PH.

 

[Ford850]

I'd burn it, and add a couple straw bale dams in the ditch to slow any flash runoff. That should allow much of the ash etc to filter into the ditch, and let a small portion run down stream to the pond (if you get heavy rains). Then by spring you can remove the bales and finish off the ditch as needed.

 

[kcflhrc]

I would be more concerned about what's under that pile that you cant see and burning it without knowing may be a really bad idea. Tires, CCA lumber which both put off toxins when burned come to mind.

 

[SouthernSooner]

I would be more concerned about what's under that pile that you cant see and burning it without knowing may be a really bad idea. Tires, CCA lumber which both put off toxins when burned come to mind.

I know there is a bunch of chicken wire, barbed wire, etc. hidden in there but don't think I've seen any tires or anything else too toxic.

 

[bcp]

You will have to burn it to see what is in it.

Bruce

 

[DrRod]

One of my friends bought a place to keep their horses. It had a ditch full of brush and trash. They started to clean it out and found a couple of trash bags that were heavy. They opened them up and found an old projector and a lot of film in cans. They plugged it in and it worked. So they threaded up some films and -- surprise -- they were home-made porno movies, very old from the looks of the styles, like 30's and 40's. And -- surprise -- they recognized the people as their new neighbors in their younger days. So might want to check out that ditch before burning.