swirly sand hole in our pond???

Question

We just bought some property with a 2 acre pond (shallow 2/3 feet needs cleaning out) but on the edge in the muck there's a sandy swirl just below the surface, its gotten bigger in 2 weeks, was 5 inches & now about 12" diameter. There are NO BUBBLES NO LIQUID very clear, just movement like the sand it being blown upward, & water feels cooler, we stuck a stick down about 2 feet didn't feel anything. What th heck is it??? Help! also we have a muskrat critter problem near the edge, thought it was one of their tunnels collapsing but there's no bubbles just water swirling up sand.

Answer 1

Congratulations on your recent purchase of a property with a pond! Owning such a large pond can be a joy; ducks, birds, fish, frogs, aquatic plants, dragonflies...there is nothing like enjoying a summer day by the pond or just looking out the window and seeing the water shimmering in the sunlight.

Your discription of the swirling pond is great, sounds like a strange science-fiction movie doesn't it! I can just picture a dark hole down below your pond with exotic creatures living in a netherworld of subsurface mud spewing clear swirling liquids into the pond!

What you are seeing, the swirling and moving of the sand being pushed upwards is the effects of natural springs entering your pond. Clear and cool water is coming up through narrow fissures and keeping your pond filled with fresh water. These springs are feeding your pond and they do have a current, a pressure, that pushes water up from below.

Having a natural spring feeding your pond is very good. It will keep your pond water level from dropping and will help support fish species that prefer cooler waters like trout.

Welcome to the wonderful world of ponds and thanks for wrriting.

Samantha
TPR