A good pond can be one of the finest investments a landowner ever makes. A bad one can turn into a muddy, weed-choked headache in a hurry.

For Texas pond owners, or those thinking about building one, help is on the way. The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center will host a Pond Management Seminar on Nov. 9, offering a full day of practical instruction on how to build, stock, and maintain productive small ponds.

The seminar will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature biologists from both the public and private sectors. Topics on the agenda include pond design and construction, identification and management of aquatic plants, small pond stocking strategies, water quality and chemistry, problem analysis and troubleshooting, and herbicide use with integrated pest control.

In other words, this is not just classroom talk. It is the kind of nuts-and-bolts information that can help pond owners avoid costly mistakes and get more out of their water, whether the goal is better fishing, improved water quality, or fewer weed problems.

Also available will be 1.5 hours of Continuing Education Credits through the Texas Department of Agriculture for re-certification of private and non-commercial applicators.

The cost is $30 per person. For more information, call 903-676-2277.

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is located on FM 2495, four miles east of Athens and about 75 miles southeast of Dallas. The facility is more than just a seminar site. It is an aquatic nature center and hatchery complex featuring 300,000 gallons of aquariums, a daily dive show, and on-site fishing.

For anyone serious about getting the most out of a small pond, this seminar could be money well spent. Good ponds do not happen by chance. They are built and managed that way.