Staff photos / Bob Coupland Eric Zamary, water quality specialist at the Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District in Cortland, stands by the new windmill aeration system that was installed in May to help provide oxygen to the district’s fish-filled pond. The pond is used for fishing and nature programs.

CORTLAND — A newly installed windmill aeration system and other improvements have been made to the pond at the Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District.

Eric Zamary, water quality specialist, said the wind-powered aeration system, with a 16-foot tall and 16-gauge galvanized windmill, features a compressor that goes to an airstone in the pond to add oxygen to keep it healthy. Bass, bluegill and perch are stocked there and the windmill will prevent the pond from stratifying throughout the year.

He said in the winter, a hole will be made in the ice to help the fish.

Zamary said the pond is open to the public as long as the person has a fishing license. The pond is for “catch-and-release” fishing.

“We have programs for children who can catch fish and see what it is like,” he said.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the pond was used for students who took part in Envirothon and other outdoor nature learning programs. The windmill, which was installed in May, sits a short distance away from the pond on the southern side of the property.

“We needed a lot of tools to put it together. We put it together at my house and put it on a trailer and brought it here,” Zamary said.

He said the windmill, airstones, air liners and valves cost more than $2,000.

Zamary said they have public events outside at the Davis Kepner Education Pavilion for anyone who has questions about ponds on their own properties.

“We held a two-hour event and had a handful of people stop to see the pond and ask questions. We do get calls about ponds, and people ask us to stop out and see their ponds. For any pond, we suggest having an aeration system,” he said.

Zamary said with natural ponds, they often return to being a wetland or get filled in.

“The aeration is one of the best things you can do for your pond. The aeration provides the oxygen for the fish and overall health of the pond and also addresses bacteria from any decaying organic matter in the pond. It will help digest any muck on the bottom of the pond, which helps the pond become deeper,” Zamary said.

He said fountains also help to circulate the water and oxygen.

Amy Reeher, district administrator, said the district was able to get the windmill aeration system from Fenders Fish Hatchery in Baltic.

Also keeping the district staff busy is an aerial cover crop program started in 2020 where the seeds, this year it’s oats and radish mix, are placed on the fields to help protect against erosion and to feed and improve the soil.

The cash crops are on the fields for part of the year and the rest of the year the fields lay dormant.

“There are many soil and water groups and environmental programs, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture is promoting the cover crops. I was on the phone with the pilot who is working on getting are seed mix ready. The plane flies about 30 feet above the field and may be using a drone this year on smaller fields, which flies 15 feet above,” Zamary said.

He said plans are to keep the seeds this year to about 20 acres and get more local residents involved. Zamary said they will want to begin planting crop cover in August.

In agriculture, cover crops are plants used to cover the soil rather than to be harvested. Cover crops manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in an agroecosystem — an ecological system managed and shaped by humans.

For information, call 330-637-2056.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com