3 Jailed On Controlled Substance Charges Following Traffic Stops, 1 Served Related Warrant
At least 3 people have been jailed in the last 4 days on controlled substance charges following traffic stops, and another was taken into custody on a controlled substance related warrant, according to police and sheriff’s reports.
FM 275 South Arrest
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Elijah Fite reported stopping a Honda Accord at 2:33 p.m. Monday, March 7, 2022, on FM 275 south for a traffic violation. Upon contact with Joey Allen Pierce, Fite noted the the 35-year-old Holly Lake Ranch man’s hands were visibly shaking.
Fite asked the man to step out of the car and wait with Sgt. Tanner Steward, while he relayed the man’s ID information to dispatchers for a records check.
Steward reported two pill bottles, one containing marijuana and the other containing what appeared to the officer to be a methamphetamine residue, were found in Pierce’s pocket. A probable cause search of the car was launched. The man was placed into custody for possession of drug paraphernalia. When asked if he had any additional contraband on him, Pierce allegedly admitted to having meth in his sock. The substance was removed from his footwear, then Pierce was transported to jail, Fite noted in arrest reports.
While processing evidence, the suspected meth field-tested positive and weighed 0.6 grams, including packaging. Pierce was booked into Hopkins County jail for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. Because the location of the stop was approximatley 163 feet from an elementary school, a drug-free zone enhancement was added to the controlled substance charge. He also was shown in jail reports to have speeding and driving while license invalid charges added.
Pierce was released from Hopkins County jail Tuesday, March 8, 2022, on a $5,000 bond on the controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
FM 69 South Arrest
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Isaac Foley stopped a Chevrolet 1500 at 1:39 a.m. Sunday, March 6, 2022, on FM 69 south near FM 2948, for an obscured license plate. Sgt. Tanner Steward assisted.
While talking to the 54-year-old driver, he agreed to let deputies search the pickup. Deputies reported finding a plastic container with a plastic bag with a crystal-like substance inside of it. Ronald Martinez reportedly admitted to deputies the substance was methamphetamine.
Martinez was taken into custody. When continued search of the truck revealed no further contraband, he was transported to jail. The truck was impounded.
The substance weighed 1.089 grams, including packaging, resulting in Martinez being booked into Hopkins County jail at 3 a.m. Sunday for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. He was released from the county jail later Sunday, March 6, 2022, on a $10,000 bond on the felony controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Loop 301 Arrest
HCSO Sgt. Tanner Steward reported conducting a traffic stop on a Isuzu pickup at 7:53 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2022, on Loop 301 near Jefferson Street for not stopping at the stop sign at the intersection.
While speaking with the driver, Steward noted the 42-year-old Sulphur Springs didn’t make eye contact with him. Michael Scott Patterson Jr., did however, agree to let deputies search the truck and admitted to the possibility of marijuana paraphernalia in it, Steward alleged in arrest reports.
Deputies reported finding a small amount of marijuana, a bag with a crystal-like substance they believed to be methamphetamine in the truck. Consequently, Patterson was arrested at 8:07 p.m. Friday and taken to jail. The pickup was impounded. The substance was seized as evidence and weighed 1.229 grams including packaging.
Patterson, who is also known to go by Micheal Patterson, was booked into jail for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1/1-B controlled substance. He was released from jail Saturday, March 5, 2022, on a $10,000 bond on the felony controlled substance charge, according to jail reports. Deputy Zack Horne was credited with assisting on the traffic stop.
Irwin Lane Arrest
HCSO Deputies Zack Horne, Isaac Foley and Drew Fisher, and Sgt. Tanner Steward were made aware of a warrant for Ernesto Arellano Martinez’s arrest early March 5, 2022. They went to the front door of the 40-year-old’s Irwin Drive address, knocked on the door and called more than once that law enforcement was at the door, for the occupant to open up.
(HCSO jail photo)
Deputies reported seeing and being able to positively identify Ernesto Martinez through a window on the north side of hte residence. The man, the sheriff’s officer noted in arrest reports, was tiptoeing around inside the residence, avoiding law enforcement, Foley alleged in arrest reports. Deputies forced entry into the residence, and took Martinez into custody at 2:08 a.m. Saturday.
At that time, Martinez allegedly admitted he was aware law enforcement were present and had had been attempting to avoid contact with them, before they entered the residence, a deputies wrote in arrest reports.
Martinez was transported to jail and booked in for surety off bond on an Oct. 26, 2021 manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1-B controlled substance charge, according to jail reports. The 40-year-old Sulphur Springs man remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in lieu of $500,000 bond on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Woman Who Allegedly Threw A Cast Iron Pot, Used Belt and Buckle Arrested On Assault Charge
Two Others Also Jailed On Assault Charges
Disturbances lead to two misdemeanor assault arrests, while a man turned himself in on a felony assault charge. A Pickton woman allegedly threw a cast iron pot through a window and struck a male with a belt and belt buckle Friday, while a Sulphur Springs man was accused Sunday evening of assaulting the person he’s dating.
Jail Commitment
A 34-year-old Sulphur Springs man at 6 p.m. Monday, March 7, 2022, turned himself in at the lobby at the county jail. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bobby Osornio escorted Leeroy Cecilio Luna into the jail, where he was book in to serve a commitment on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge.
According to sheriff’s and court reports, Luna was slated to appear in court on March 1, 2022, for sentencing on the charge. The length of the sentence was not noted in the reports.
Jail records show Luna was jailed Feb. 3, 2014, and Jan. 9, 2021 on aggravated assault with deadly weapon charges.
According to 2021 arrest reports, Luna was taken into custody Jan. 9, 2021, for public intoxication on North Davis Street, where a disturbance had been reported. On further investigation, police were told Luna threatened another person at the location with a knife. Officers reported a knife fitting the description of the one used in the threat was found in his pants pocket upon arrival at the jail. He was released the next day on a $35,000 bond on the aggravated assault charge.
Luna was indicted on March 5, 2021 on the aggravated assault charge, according to court records. He was jailed again July 7-27, 2021, for bond forfeiture on the felony assault charge. His bond was set at $70,000 on July 2021, according to jail reports.
Goodman Street Arrest
Sulphur Springs Police officers responded at 6:38 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 2022, to a disturbance reported on Goodman Street. During their investigation, police determined a 45-year-old Sulphur Springs man caused visible injury to a person he’s in a dating relationship with.
Because the pair live in the same household, police took the 45-year-old man into custody at 7:16 p.m. Sunday to prevent further violence from occurring. The Sulphur Springs man was charged with family violence causing bodily injury. He was released from jail Monday, March 7, 2022, on a $1,000 bond on the misdemeanor assault charge, according to jail reports.
CR 2420 Arrest
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies at 4:40 p.m. Friday responded at a County Road 2420 address, where a physical disturbance was reported. Upon arrival, Deputy Drew Fisher contacted a male who claimed the other person involved had left on foot.
Fisher reported seeing red marks and cuts on the male’s arm, allegedly caused when the woman struck him with a belt and belt buckle. The deputy also noticed a sliding glass door was broken, reportedly when the woman threw a cast iron pot through it, with both of her juvenile daughters in the living room where the pot landed. The woman too was accused of rear-ending the man’s car.
Deputies began searching the area, and soon spotted the woman walking up from the nearby pasture behind the residence. When the sheriff’s officers talked with the woman, who they reported appeared to be intoxicated, she claimed the man had assaulted her. She, however, had no bruising or markings to confirm her story, Fisher and Deputy Isaac Foley noted in arrest reports.
Thus, deputies took the 34-year-old Pickton woman into custody at 5:50 p.m. March 4, 2022, at her CR 2420 residence and transported her to jail, where she was booked on a misdemeanor family violence assault causing injury to a family member charge, according to jail reports. She was released from Hopkins County jail Sunday, March 6, 2022, on a $2,000 bond on the misdemeanor charge.
KSST does not publish the names or photos of people charged with misdemeanor crimes in staff-generated reports, only those accused of felony offenses.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Man Accused Of Forcing His Way Into A Helm Lane Apartment
Troopers caught a 40-year-old Sulphur Springs man inside a residence he was reportedly seen attempting to force his way into.
Sulphur Springs dispatchers received a 911 call at 1:26 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 2022, from someone reporting the man was attempting to for his way into a Helm Lane apartment. Sulphur Springs Police were dispatched to the location. Before they could get there, dispatch was told the man had made entry into the apartment.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in the area heard that the man had made entry and responded as well, arriving ahead of police. Troopers detained the man in handcuffs upon finding him inside the apartment in question. After brief investigation, officials determined the man was at the location to pick up his belongings that were in the residence. In order to get in, the 40-year-old man was believed to have force entry by breaking a window at the apartment, which was not his residential address.
The Sulphur Springs man was released to Sulphur Springs police, who took the man to the county jail, where he was held on a criminal trespass charge for being in the apartment he was reportedly seen trying to forcing his way into, according to arrest reports. The 40-year-old man was released from Hopkins County jail Monday, March 7, 2022, on a $1,000 bond on the misdemeanor trespassing charge, according to arrest reports.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
SSHS Jury Renders Guilty Verdict in Mock Murder Trial Performed At Courthouse
A Sulphur Springs High School jury found a defendant guilt during a mock murder trial performed at Hopkins County Courthouse Tuesday morning. The mock trial is an annual event conducted to allow SSHS students to practice in a real courtroom things they’ve learned in class as part of the pretend case.
Students are selected to serve as witnesses, court bailiffs, prosecuting and defense attorneys, victims or those connected to them, the defendant, investigators, officers and others who would be involved in a murder investigation and trial. The “case” was heard before County Court-at-Law Judge Clay Harrison, in the second floor courtroom at Hopkins County Courthouse, to give the students a real feel for a trial.
Students are each tasked with researching their roles, compiling their “evidence,” preparing to testimony, questioning of witnesses, opening and closing statements, whether to have the “defendant” testify, and many other important preparatory measures required for a court case.
In this case, a meal delivery person previously accused of voyeurism, and reported to be undergoing psychotherapy, was accused of murdering a woman. The “defendant” claimed he saw a woman running out of the house upon arrival, then observed a woman on the floor and a man with blood on him. Use of medication prescribed by the therapist was cited. The student “prosecutors” pointed out inconsistencies in testimony of defense “witnesses” compared to initial statements given to authorities, and argued that the defendant watched a woman’s activities and killed her at the address where he claimed to have delivered a food order.
Judge Harrison at various times during the trial answered questions, responded to objections. He commended the students on their performances in the rolls assigned to them. He also pointed out different elements or facets of the trial and took questions from the audience, students who did not have an active role in the mock trial. To help document the mock murder trial, local media and instructors were allowed to bring cameras and recording devices into the courtroom – something not typically permitted.
Tuesday Game Day Has Three Teams On Deck, Softball Pushed Back to Wednesday
Tuesday, Mar. 8 is an eventful one for Sulphur Springs sports.
Golf plays in their third competition of the season, their second match in a week.
Both soccer teams play in their second-to-last regular season contests. Softball was originally scheduled to tee off at Lady Cat Park Tuesday but has since been pushed to Wednesday.
Last week men’s golf travelled to Longview for a two-day tournament, and now have their second-to-last competition of the Spring season on deck Tuesday.
Coach Jeremy DeLorge and his team are in Grand Prairie for their third competition and final contest prior to their District Preview.
Both the District Preview and District Championship take place at Temptest GC. District Preview for Sulphur Springs is Monday, Mar. 21.
The 15-5A Championship Tournament occurs a week later, Monday and Tuesday Mar. 28-29.
Softball was scheduled to start their district season Tuesday, Mar. 8 at home versus Hallsville, but that has since been pushed back to Wednesday, Mar. 9.
Sulphur Springs begins their district season Wednesday sporting a 9-1-2 record, going 4-1 in their final tournament in Royse City last weekend.
Tuesday, Mar. 7’s duel beginning district play at Lady Cat Park features the top two teams from 15-5A last season.
The visiting Lady Cats enter Tuesday’s showdown sporting a similarly impressive 9-4-1 record.
Coach David Carrillo’s squad needs a complete team performance if they wish to best Hallsville.
District play tees off for softball at Lady Cat Park on Wednesday now at 6 P.M.
Baseball has a bye Tuesday before their final tournament in Royse City Thursday through Saturday, Mar. 10-12.
Lady Cats soccer host Senior Night on Tuesday, Mar. 8. Coach Javier Aguayo’s squad take on Pine Tree for their home-finale.
Even though Sulphur Springs won over Marshall last Friday 6-0, the loss prior to Friday’s win, a 2-1 loss to Texas High eliminated women’s soccer from postseason contention. Coach Aguayo’s team enters their Senior Night contest with a 5-14-2 record (2-8 district).
Pine Tree comes in to Tuesday’s contest third in 15-5A (5-4 district) with just a half-game lead over Mount Pleasant and Texas High, both 5-5 in district play.
The Lady Cats play for pride to close out their season, but could play spoiler to the Lady Pirates with a win Tuesday at the Prim on Senior Night.
That game kicks off tonight at the Prim at 7:15 P.M.
Tuesday’s senior night matchup with Pine Tree is being broadcasted onto KSST 1230 AM. If given permission, KSST will also be livestreaming the game Tuesday night on to KSST Radio’s YouTube channel.
Women’s soccer have a bye Friday prior to wrapping up their season on the road next Tuesday.
Wildcats soccer are back on the road after a great week which saw Coach Alexi Upton’s team go 2-0 and keep control of third place.
Sulphur Springs beat Texas High 3-2 on the road and Marshall 3-1 at home last Friday to improve their district record to 5-5, keeping Hallsville (4-5) a game behind with two games left.
Men’s soccer has a date with the Bobcats a week from today, on Tuesday, Mar. 15 for Senior Night. Next Tuesday’s contest is the regular season finale for Sulphur Springs.
But before they can shift their focus to what may very well end up being a defacto seeding game next Tuesday, first men’s soccer has to take care of business with Pine Tree (3-5-1).
That game kicks off Tuesday, Mar. 8 in Longview at 7:15 P.M.
Like Lady Cats soccer, the Wildcats have a bye Friday before next Tuesday’s regular-season finale.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Center Director Rob Stanley Assists
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Director Rob Stanley assists student Mary Lane of Sulphur Springs as she works on a class assignment in the library. For information about classes at the campus, call 903-885-1232.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
American Legion, VFW Hosting March 12 Blood Drive
American Legion Post 66 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8560 are hosting the Carter BloodCare bus Saturday in Brookshire’s parking lot, 809 Gilmer St. in Sulphur Springs. The March 12 blood drive will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Every donation is appreciated.
Donor Eligibility
Blood donors must be at least 16 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good general health; 16-year-olds must have written parental consent. There is no upper age limit to donate blood. Donors are encouraged to eat a low-fat meal 2-4 hours before giving blood, and drink lots of water or juice before and after donating. They are recommended to avoid alcoholic beverages and caffeine products for 12 hours before and after donating, and to avoid strenuous activity for 12 hours after donating blood.
According to Carter BloodCare, most health conditions won’t prohibit people from donating blood. Exceptions that could prevent a person from donating, include those: with skin cancers, solid tumor cancers, leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma, Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease, variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease, or people who have had certain exposure risks, a history of heart disease, hereditary hemochromatosis, or a history of certain infections, lung disease, people who are on antibiotics for treatment of a current infection (not including topical treatments), who are pregnant and for 6 weeks following pregnancy, on testosterone therapy, within 3 months after most blood and platelet transfusions or receiving human grafts and transplants, a history of other certain transplants, who are malaria risks due to travel outside the US, who have had certain recent vaccinations.
Click here to see Carter’s full list of medications and deferral period for each before donor eligibility as well as a list of infections and exposure risks, and conditions that would make a person ineligible to donate blood.
How To Donate
Those who wish to donate blood Saturday need only look for the bus; have a state-issued, school or government issued photo ID in hand; and meet eligibility requirements to donate at the drive hosted by the American Legion and VFW.
For the safety of donors and staff, Carter BloodCare continues to follow all national guidelines from the industry as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
All potential donors will be asked for their name, address and to show valid photo ID. A phlebotomist checks temperature, blood pressure, pulse and blood count for potential donors, then asks questions about their medical history to make sure giving blood is safe for the individual and that the potential donor’s blood will be safe to give to patients. Blood donation typically takes approximately 5-10 minutes, and the entire process from registration to post-donation refreshments is anticipated to take less than an hour. The drive is for whole blood donations.
While an appointment is not necessary, those wishing to reserve a time may go online to the Carter BloodCare website and select mobile drive conducted by the American Legion Post #66, select an available time slot and register. All others may look for the Carter BloodCare bus in Brookshire’s parking lot between 9 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Then get in line with ID.
Further questions about this drive may be directed to Andy Lowen at 903-355-3733.
15 Personnel Changes Approved For Sulphur Springs ISD In Addition To Contract Extensions
Douglass ECLC Principal/Head Start Director To Retire, SSES Counselor Resigns
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees approved 15 personnel changes in addition to routine contract extensions recommended for certified and non-certified administrative personnel for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.
Among the 15 personnel changes approved by trustees at the recommendation of administrators following an executive session during Monday night’s regular Sulphur Springs ISD board meeting, five are new hires, seven were early notices submitted of pending retirements, two were resignations and one will be a position change.
At the administrative campus, Jeremy Lopez was approved to become the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Learner Services. He will be located at the SSISD Administration Building, filling an opening created with the resignation of Kristin Monk. Also at the Administrative Building, Marci Owens’ early notice of planned retirement from her post as administrative assistant to the superintendent was accepted.
Also submitting an early notice of planned retirement was Angela Edwards, Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center principal and Head Start director. Makena Walden will be joining the Douglass ECLC staff as a pre-kindergarten aide.
Patrick Leber, a lieutenant at Sulphur Springs Police Department, will be joining the SSISD Police Department, assigned as campus officer at Barbara Bush Primary. Also at Bush Primary, food services worker Karen Williams submitted an early retirement notice.
The resignation of Pamela Ash, counselor at Sulphur Springs Elementary, was accepted by trustees at the March 7, 2022 school board meeting.
At Sulphur Springs High School, Richard Page was approved as a teacher and defensive coordinator. Carla Owens’ resignation as testing coordinator was accepted by trustees as well.
Jessica Rogers was approved to join the staff at Austin Academic Center as an instructional aide. Also for that campus, Marsha Nolen turned in an early retirement notice; she is the REACH teacher.
The final four of the 15 SSISD personnel changes approved March 7, 2022, will be at Sulphur Springs Middle School. Special education teacher Catherin Ferguson, English language arts and reading teacher Patty Isonhood, math teacher Senor Mangon all submitted early retirement notices. Dustin Barrett will continue teaching history, but is moving from a seventh grade classroom to an eighth grade classroom.
Kyle Man Leads Police On 30-Mile Vehicle Chase On I-30 East Through 2 Counties
A 22-year-old Kyle man lead Cumby Police and multiple officers from other agencies on a 30-mile vehicle chase along Interstate 30 through Hopkins County and into Franklin County Saturday afternoon.
Cumby Police Officer Justin Talley reported the black Dodge Charger first caught his attention around 3:15 p.m. March 5, 2022, because the vehicle’s front window tint “exceeded the AS-1 line” and its temporary tag was unreadable as it waved in the wind. Talley reported catching up to the car near mile marker 116 on I-30 east and turning on his vehicle’s emergency lights to signal the driver to pull over. Instead, the car accelerated and began to speed away, Talley alleged in arrest reports.
Talley pursued the car, which he alleged continued at high speeds east on I-30, showing a willful and wonton disregard for safety of others and property by swerving in and out of traffic, and passing vehicles on the improved shoulders of the road at high speeds. The Cumby officer kept other officers from multiple other agencies who were responding to assist in the pursuit, by updating them via his police radio as the chase persisted through Hopkins County into Franklin County, according to the officer’s account of the chase in arrest reports.
The vehicle pursuit reported ended with the driver pulling onto the right shoulder of I-30 east near mile marker 146 in Franklin County. The driver, identified as 22-year-old Mark Sherrin of Kyle, Texas, was taken into custody at 3:34 p.m. Saturday. A search of the car revealed two pistols, a Glock and AR-style pistol, Talley noted in arrest reports.
A female passenger in the car claimed she’d told Sherrin to pull over for law enforcement, and that she was afraid for her safety. Sherrin’s driver’s license was found to be suspended. He was transported to jail; the car was impounded, Talley alleged in arrest reports.
Sherrin’s 30-mile vehicle chase on I-30 resulted in the 22-year-old Kyle man being booked into Hopkins County jail at 5:40 p.m. March 5, 2022, on a felony evading arrest or detention with a vehicle charge, a Class A misdemeanor unlawful carrying of a weapon charge, a Class B misdemeanor reckless driving charge and a Class B misdemeanor driving while license suspended or invalid charge, according to arrest reports.
Sherrin was released from Hopkins County jail Sunday, March 6, 2022, on $30,000 in bond – $15,000 bond on the felony evading charge, and $5,000 bond per misdemeanor charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Figuring Out What Causes A Muddy Pond, What To Do About It
By Mario Villarino, Texas AgriLife Extension Agent, Ag./NR
A frequent complaint of pond owners, especially after filling newly constructed ponds, is a muddy, dirty, or turbid appearance. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, many owners wish for clear sparkling waters, but are instead greeted by muddy ponds containing water that resembles chocolate milk.
Turbid water, or turbidity, is caused by suspended organic and inorganic particles in a body of water that reduce clarity. In a muddy pond, it is primarily suspended clay particles that produce the turbidity.
It is important to understand the problems that turbidity produced by suspended clay particles could potentially cause in a pond’s ecosystem. Clay turbidity in ponds reduces the ability of light to penetrate the water to depth, which results in reduced amounts of phytoplankton, and subsequently, reduced natural oxygen production and food for fish. Not only could muddy or turbid water cause stunted growth in fish, but overall aesthetics of the pond can be reduced. Another concern of muddy ponds is that suspended solids can lead to undesirable flavors, often referred to as “off-flavors,” in fish harvested from the pond. Muddiness of ponds can also promote the growth of bacteria and blue-green algae, which can lead to health problems for aquatic organisms, humans, and animals that may swim in or drink from the pond.
Most pond owners desire completely clear ponds that look “aesthetically pleasing,” but due to lack of nutrients and associated food, this can also cause detrimental effects for fish populations if the pond owner is concerned about maintaining a good fishery. Completely clear water means there is no food in the water column for small fish to eat.
Ponds can appear muddy for various reasons. The most common causes for muddy ponds are new pond construction in clay soils, rainfall/runoff, erosion from wave action and other sources, and animals. One
may wonder how these factors can cause a pond to become muddy, or turbid. To retain water, ponds must be constructed in, or lined with, clay-rich soil. Clay soils contain tiny, negatively charged clay particles that can suspend in the water, ultimately causing the appearance of muddy water.
Runoff from a rain event can also bring clay particles into the pond from the surrounding environment. Turbidity can result from high winds, abrupt changes in air temperature, and excessive rainfall disturbing clay particles, causing them to become suspended in the water. Wildlife, such as ducks, beavers, muskrats, and wading birds; livestock wading in or drinking from the pond; invasive species such as common carp, nutria, and feral hogs; and aeration systems can also cause suspension of clay particles.
In some cases, fish species intentionally stocked into the pond, such as grass carp or catfish, can stir the bottom sediment, causing turbidity.
Before treating a pond, one must first determine the underlying cause of the issue — whether it is due to a problem stated above or it is related to a chemistry issue — and eliminate it. This is a crucial and often overlooked step. If the cause of the suspended clay is not first eliminated, the turbidity can soon return after a clearing treatment, resulting in wasted money and effort.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
