Integrated Pond Management (IPM) is a strategy/plan for managing the entire ecosystem of a pond to maintain its health. An IPM plan is usually custom created for your specific pond site by a professional aquatic biologist (often called a “pond doctor” or “lake doctor”).

Your IMP plan should include monitoring and remedy of any issues found on a monthly or bi-weekly basis for most ponds. Monitoring includes water sampling and testing, aeration (if a pump or fountain is not part of the pond design), and managing the stability of the pond ecosystem.

Your IMP plan should strive to:
* Maintain or improve water quality,
* Maintain or improve water clarity,
* Reduce incidents of algae bloom,
* Reduce growth of nuisance plants,
* Reduce excess nutrients and nutrient loading that can lead to stagnation,
* And reduce or eliminate reliance on pesticides.

Some tools your pond management provider may use to keep your pond healthy include:
* Beneficial bacteria,
* Phosphorus reduction agents,
* Natural enzymes,
* And increasing aeration of pond water using aeration systems, metering systems and/or fountains.

A good IMP plan focuses on preventing problems that damage the ecosystem of your pond such as nutrient loading, pesticide contamination and stagnation. At the same time, your plan should consistently work to improve conditions in your pond to keep it healthy for years to come.