Contact the Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District for a pond site evaluation to determine if your site is appropriate for a pond. HCSWCD is located at:
103 County View Dr. 
Lake Pleasant, NY 12108
(315) 376-6122

The Pond Guidebook (2007, Ochterski, et. al) is written for ponds of 1/8 acre or larger in the Northeast, the Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic United States. The authors explain the causes of many common pond problems and review the advantages and drawbacks of various treatments. The book suggests practices that minimize negative impacts on the environment, promote healthy ecosystems, encourage responsible use of chemicals, and enhance biological diversity. View this publication as a PDF on the NRAES website.

Purchase a hard-copy of the book or download a low resolution fair-use copy here.