Private ponds come with a lot of management issues but no owner's manual. "The Pond Guidebook," a Cornell Cooperative Extension booklet published by the Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service, can help. Specializing in ponds in the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States, it answers such questions as:

* How many game fish should be in my pond, what kinds should I stock, and when should I stock them?

* Is the bacteria in my pond a problem for swimmers?

* How can I get a pond built correctly in the first place?

* What's "safe ice" for skating?

* Can I control the weeds and algae without chemicals?

The 78-page publication provides practical advice, remedies and management tips about large ponds, says co-author Cliff Kraft, Cornell associate professor of fishery and aquatic sciences. It addresses such key topics as pond water chemistry, pond construction, safety, aquatic weed management options, pond fish selection and stocking, dealing with nuisance wildlife, enhancing ponds with vegetation, beach construction and leaking ponds.

The book also discusses the causes of many common pond problems and reviews the advantages and drawbacks of various pond treatments, offering practices that minimize negative impacts on the environment, promote healthy ecosystems, encourage responsible use of chemicals and enhance biological diversity.

"Most pond owners get their information from their neighbors or other informal sources, which have useful tips to share, but the details are all too often mishandled," says Kraft, who maintains a pond extension Web site at http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/pond1.htm. "This publication is based on research, the input from dozens of professionals and our years of pond-side experience in the Northeast."

With 62 photos and illustrations, the booklet also advises pond owners when they should contact local agencies for specific guidelines, such as particular aquatic chemicals, the legality of biological controls, soil structure and surface water management, because environmental regulations vary from state to state.

The book's other co-authors are Jim Ochterski, CCE extension educator; Rebecca Schneider, Cornell associate professor of natural resources; and Bryan Swistock, a water resources specialist at Penn State University.

For more information, including information on ordering and sample pages, see http://thepondguidebook.com/.