The Chilton County Extension Office will hold a pond management workshop on July 11 from 6-8 p.m. at the Jemison Municipal Complex.

The topics on the agenda for the workshop include pond construction, pond stocking, liming/fertilization and pond fertility, maintaining balance, aquatic weeds and wildlife around ponds.

Helping oversee the workshop is Chris Jaworowski who is a regional extension agent and specializes in forestry, wildlife and natural resources. He covers eight counties throughout central Alabama, including Chilton County.

Jaworowski will handle the portion of the workshop that pertains to trapping beavers and other animals that can become nuisances around a pond environment, while a fishing specialist will also be on hand.

Chilton County and its surrounding area are known for having some of the popular fishing spots in the state.

According to Jaworowski, the extension office usually tries to put a workshop on every couple of years. He expects the workshop to catch the interest of several people.

One of the overwhelming questions that Jaworowski anticipates those in attendance will have is how to handle aquatic weeds and algae.

“Pond owners have a lot of weed problems,” Jaworowski said.

However, there has been an increase in aquatic weeds in large part because of the draught that was hitting the area at this time.

“With the drought last year water levels went down, and when sunlight hits dirt that hasn’t seen it in a while, that’s what you tend to get,” Jaworowski said.

According to Jaworowski, he is currently receiving about five to six phone calls a week about ponds.

The workshop will not only teach people how to get started when constructing their first pond, but also the factors that come into play to maintain it.

Registration is required to attend and can be completed by calling the Chilton County Extension Office at (205) 280-6268. Sandwiches and chips will be provided.

“Having a pond is like having a garden,” Jaworowski said. “It takes tending from the owner.”