I read the other day there are more than 400,000 of acres of manmade ponds and small lakes in Mississippi.

There was a time when ponds were constructed primarily for a source of water for livestock. But for decades now, the main reasons for building ponds have been erosion control and recreation, i.e. bream and bass fishing. In this area, most ponds are built by damming up a natural drain between two hills provided it is feasible to do so and there is enough land draining its rainfall into the dammed up area.

Ponds and lakes on private land are assets for sure. But with every manmade water structure comes a bunch of responsibilities that can turn into headaches if not addressed properly and timely. Aquatic weeds, aging dirt structures and out-of-whack fish populations will eventually all be menaces for pond owners. Suburbanites who live in subdivisions with jointly-owned residential lakes get the same problems.

They just have to get more folks to agree what to do when and who pays the tab.

Pond and lake owners and lakeside residents have an opportunity coming up to learn some pond management techniques proven to work.

The Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Warren and Hinds Counties have joined forces to sponsor a Pond Management Workshop for residents of the two counties.

The date is Thursday, April 28, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting through lunch. The site is a nice manmade small lake just east of Edwards at 102 McKey Lane.

Now there is no need to GPS it or wonder where the heck is McKey Lane because we all pass the lake every time we take I-20 towards Jackson.

It is the lake in front of the two story red brick house on the South Frontage Road between Edwards and Bolton.

Many of us first knew it as the “Icee Man House” because the South Louisianan who created the Icee frozen slush drink originally built the house.

It is now the home of the McKey family. The way to get there is to exit I-20 at Edwards, turn south to the immediate intersection and left onto South Frontage Road heading east.

Workshop topics will include pond construction and maintenance, stocking ratios, weed control and pond fertilization.

Also, a perfectly legal shock boat will be used to demonstrate how wildlife biologists take fish counts on public lakes and waterways. Surely everyone knows it is illegal to harvest fish by electrocution.

Years ago it was my duty as junior officer in the National Guard to confiscate the fish and hand-cranked field telephone a few troops used to “call up” fish at summer camp. But state and federal wildlife biologist are authorized to use electric shock to make fish counts for management decisions.

For those who have never seen a shock boat at work, this should be educational.

There is no fee and lunch is free, but there is an April 15 deadline to sign up by calling in at 601-636-7679, Extension 3.

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Terry Rector is a spokesman for the Vicksburg Soil and Water Conservation District.