CONTACT: Dr. Howard van Dijk, (803) 865-1216, ext. 128; hdijk@clemson.edu

DATE: 8/23/2007

WRITER: Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343, ext. 241; tlollis@clemson.edu

Pond management workshop set for Midlands Sept. 24

COLUMBIA – If you are a pond owner in the midlands of South Carolina and need some advice on how to manage it, Clemson University will be conducting a workshop just for you Sept. 24 at the Sandhill Research and Education Center.

The evening program will run from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Lakehouse at Sandhill REC, according to Howard van Dijk, lead Clemson Extension agent for Richland County. A pond walk begins at 5 and a fish fry meal will be served at 6 o’clock. Principal speakers will begin around 7 p.m.

Registration will be $20 per person or $30 per couple and limited to the first 80 registrants. Sept. 18 is the registration deadline. To register or to obtain more information, call the Richland County Extension office at (803) 865-1216, ext. 0 or e-mail Howard van Dijk at hdijk@clemson.edu.

Checks made payable to Clemson University should be mailed to Richland County Extension Service, 900 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC 29229.

Instructors will include Jack Whetstone, Extension aquatic specialist; Hugh Caldwell of the Richland Conservation District; Shaun Worley, district conservationist with the National Resource Conservation Service; and Richard Yetter, wildlife biologist with the NRCS.

Topics to be covered will include: general pond management, liming and fertilizing, stocking and harvesting, weed control methods, typical pond problems, construction basics, basic water quality and best management practices.

The Sandhill REC is at Clemson Road and Two Notch Road in Northeast Richland County.

END