Content Analysis of the Pond Management Literature

Abstract

Pond management information available to the public was assessed by content analysis of the 56 educational bulletins provided by 79 state and federal agencies in 43 states. This review indicated that an abundance and a high diversity of pond management information is available to the public in most states, except for those (primarily western states) with limited surface water resources. Certain pond management practices (stocking, population balance, weed control, fertilization, and construction) dominated the literature; fish health, habitat management, and socioeconomic aspects were treated less comprehensively. Suggested improvements to subsequent bulletins include: (1) updating the content to reflect changes in management knowledge; (2) clarifying the economic and ecological consequences of herbicide, piscicide, and fertilization applications; (3) expanding coverage to include socioeconomic benefits and liabilities of ownership; (4) developing regional or multistate sponsored bulletins to facilitate timely revisions and cost-effective production and distribution; (5) generating substantive bulletins complete with references (rather than superficial leaflets); and (6) use of multiple communication strategies (videos, workshops, teleconferencing) to augment bulletins.