707 North Robinson, P.O. Box 1677, Oklahoma City, OK  73101-1677	Fact Sheet

Don’t be surprised or overly concerned of your pond also was a victim of the recent tornadoes.

The Department of Environmental Quality is advising of a possible affect to ponds that were in the path of the May 3^rd tornadoes. Debris such as wood, paper, trees and limbs have been deposited in many ponds. Oxygen in water is used in the decay process. As the debris decays, the oxygen level in the water will be reduced. Aquatic plants and fish will die if sufficient oxygen does not remain in the water to sustain them. As these plants and fish die and begin to decay, they add to the demand for oxygen. Under these circumstances, a pond may appear dark brown or black and may even have a pungent odor, similar to rotten eggs.

The pond should recover naturally from the decomposition of the debris, but the process may take weeks or even months.

The recovery time may be reduced by draining the pond, but if drainage water reaches another pond or stream, the same condition could occur in the receiving body of water.