Pond Cleaning

Ponds that look like ponds again.

Aquatic weeds, algae mats, and shoreline overgrowth — removed by hand from natural ponds on rural, ranch, vineyard, and estate properties. No chemicals.

A farm or estate pond that's choked with weeds isn't just ugly — it loses water to transpiration, breeds mosquitoes, and becomes unusable for livestock, irrigation, or fishing. I clean ponds the slow, careful way: by hand and with shore-based tools, working from the edges and by wading, without chemicals and without draining your pond.

I don't regrade banks, alter the pond's shape, or do any earthwork. I remove what's growing where it shouldn't be, clear the shoreline, and haul the vegetation away from the water.

What I do

Submerged and floating aquatic vegetation removal (pondweed, algae mats, duckweed)

Emergent growth — cattails, tules, and shoreline weeds

Shoreline brush and blackberry clearing around the pond's edge

Clearing access paths to the water

Vegetation hauled off-site or composted away from drainages

Recurring seasonal maintenance visits

Frequently asked questions

Is this algae or weeds — does it matter?

It matters for the approach, not for the estimate. Send photos with your request and I'll tell you what I'm seeing and how I'd handle it.

I have fish / wildlife / livestock using the pond. Is hand-clearing safe for them?

Hand and shore-based removal is the gentlest method there is — no chemicals in the water, no heavy equipment in the pond. I work around fish and wildlife, and I'll ask about nesting seasons and livestock access before scheduling.

How often does a pond need cleaning?

Most natural ponds benefit from attention once or twice a growing season. A first cleanup is the big job; maintenance visits after that are smaller and cheaper.

What size ponds do you work on?

Most of my jobs are ponds up to a few acres — farm, ranch, vineyard, and estate ponds. Tell me about yours, including access for hauling vegetation out, and I'll tell you honestly if it's in my range.

Where does all the vegetation go?

Off your property with me, or composted well away from waterways — never pushed into a creek or drainage.

My pond is connected to a creek. Can you still clean it?

Possibly, with care. Ponds tied into creeks or streams can involve state permits, so I'll ask about the water source before quoting and we'll go from there.

Ready when you are.

Free on-site estimates across Sonoma and Marin counties.

Get a Free Estimate —  call/text (707) 582-2323