HAMILTON, Ohio — The Butler County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will present a pond clinic on May 8 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Izaak Walton League, 450 Beissinger Road in Hamilton.

The League will open the gates at 5 p.m. for anyone who wants to come and fish in the pond; children or grandchildren are welcome.

“At the pond clinics we offer technical assistance on pond construction and management, aquatic weed control, pond aeration and liability,” said Ryan Smith, natural resource specialist with the SWCD.

Many of the people who come to the clinics already have a pond, he said. Typically, their biggest concern is aquatic weeds. People can bring samples of such weeds to the clinic for identification. Smith can give suggestions on how to eradicate the problem.

“Also, people will come who are interested in building a pond, and that’s when we’ll go over soil identification, do they have the proper soils on their property for a pond?” he said. “And look at watersheds; do they have enough watershed area or do they need more?”

Many people are building ponds on their property, Smith said. It is becoming popular for fishing, swimming and other recreation.

“What we’re concerned about, with Butler County being so urbanized, that there is more of a risk of people trespassing, people wanting to come and fish or swim,” he explained. “We try to educate our landowners on the liability they have when people come on their property without permission.”

Following is a listing of pond clinics at SWCDs throughout Ohio. For location, topics and more information, contact your appropriate office directly:

•Auglaize County, April 18 at 4:30 p.m., 419-738-4016

•Butler County, May 8 at 6:30 p.m., 513-887-3720

•Clermont County, April 16 at 6 p.m., 513-732-7075

•Darke, Miami and Shelby counties, April 16 at 6:30 p.m., 937-548-2410

•Delaware County, April 30 at 6:30 p.m., 740-368-1921

•Hamilton County, June 5 at 6 p.m., 513-772-7645

•Licking County, April 20 at 9 a.m., 740-670-5330

•Medina County, May 22 at 6:30 p.m., 330-722-2628

•Montgomery and Preble counties, June 6, 937-854-7645

•Noble County, May 21 at 6:30 p.m., 740-732-4318

•Van Wert County, May 21 at 6:30 p.m., 419-238-9591

•Warren County, May 7 at 6:30 p.m., 513-695-1337

•Williams County, April 11 at 5:30 p.m., 419-636-9395

•Wood County, April 17 at 7 p.m., 419-354-5517