Since the inception of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks, our Fisheries Biologists have been providing information to private pond and small lake owners to help them manage their water bodies and solve common problems. We provide free advice concerning pond construction, stocking, liming and fertilization, aquatic plant identification and control measures, fish harvest, fisheries management and fish kills.

Your county Natural Resource Conservation Service office and your Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service office also provide pond assistance information.

The MDWFP Fisheries Biologists provide pond information through phone calls, faxes, by mail, Email and on the farm pond management forum on the MDWFP website. Onsite sampling of ponds may be done only after the receipt of an application for such and the District Fisheries Biologist determines this service is necessary to assess the current pond situation. This is a free service.

The MDWFP does not:

·         Provide free fish for stocking

·         Provide funds for pond construction

·         Provide funds for the purchase of fish or aquatic chemicals

·         Remove dead or live fish from ponds

·         Apply lime, fertilizer or any aquatic chemical

·         Perform onsite population assessments in ponds less than 1 acre or those managed by private pond consultants.

·         Perform onsite population assessments without the receipt of an application for such service.

·         Test water for pollution or toxic chemicals

Click here for a map of the closest technical assistance office.