Ice is a natural occurrence in any winter pond.

Some wonderfully beautiful backyard scenery can be developed with just a sharp drop in temperature, such as clear ice like a pane of glass over your pond, or a stream surrounded by ice formations.

Ice is also one of natures great destructive forces, and it can damage your pond if not monitored. Monitoring is the key word when dealing with winter and ice. Make sure you check on your pond often for the following problems that may occur: When ice begins to build around your stream, it can cause ice dams that can divert water out of your pond and on to your lawn. If this happens, your pond will drain very quickly.

Watch your power supply. Keep outlets covered and safe from moisture to prevent power outages. Once your system stops, tubing will freeze rapidly, which causes blockage and can even burst lines. If your pond freezes over solid, it isn't a problem unless you have fish. Some water must be kept open in a fish pond for the exchange of gases to occur. Your fish will be dead in a few short days if you allow the water to freeze over completely.

If it does freeze over, hot water will open a hole up. You can even heat a kettle of water and place the entire kettle on the ice to open a hole. Common rock salt will burn a hole through the ice, but make sure it has no additives. Use the cheap stuff. Once you have a hole, drain an inch or two below the hole. This creates an air pocket. Coupled with the layer of insulating ice above, it should help keep the water from freezing over again.

If your system stops and you can't get it going again, just get a small pump or buy a pond heater to get you by until the weather warms again. Which it will, eventually. NEVER BREAK A HOLE IN THE ICE IF YOU HAVE FISH. It creates a sonic discharge that can kill your fish. It is also said that leaving your streams and waterfalls running as a means of keeping the water open is not a good idea with koi. Koi are not really built for the extremes of Utah winters.

A waterfall or stream actually draws the colder air into the water and since cold water sinks, it travels straight to the bottom of your pond. Where your fish are. Water at 40 degrees is very cold. Water at 34 degrees very, very ,VERY cold! It's best to have a small pump or heater in the shallow area of your pond, away from where your fish hibernate. Air pump do not work well in Utah, it's just too cold at times for them to be effective.

If you choose to use a heater, be sure it's a pond heater. An aquarium heater would only try to heat the entire pond and would fail miserably. Now that you have a grip on your ice situation, sit back and enjoy the beauty of your winter pond through the kitchen window. And dream of Spring! (See also 'Winter Care')