My husband and I have a small hilly farm in West Virginia. A few years ago we had two farm ponds made - a fairly large one (60' x 40'? a guess) and a smaller one (20' x 25' ?). We stocked them (with bad advice from a "consultant/supplier") with koi and goldfish. For the past 4 years or so, the pond has been very muddy and the banks are being chewed into, the damage is getting to be significant and we are concerned that in a few more years the "dam" side of the pond (catches runoff augmented by a small spring) will be weaken and break through. Neither pond has a liner. Reading your article points out that we probably shouldn't be trying to raise exotic fish in a wild setting, for the many reasons you mentioned.

We probably have around 15 large koi (16-18 "?) and numerous smaller koi. With them we have a number of small gold fish. The pond doesn't seem to be overpopulated, but it is difficult to know because the water is always muddy. We are only feeding them occasionally. We are not fish experts and don't really know the best step to take. We would be willing to have the fish removed and taken to a good/better home...

Your best bet would be to contact MAKC (Mid-Atlantic Koi Club) and see if anyone local can help you out. Stocking a farm pond with koi is always a mistake. The whole point of a Koi pond is the crystal-clear water and the ability to see your "living jewels" all the time. This requires a fairly sophisticated set of equipment.

Your ponds need bluegills and bass, and other native species.

Bob Passovoy
President MPKS