What is the recommended order of applying aquatic pesticides to minimize fish contact?

• A. Start applications from shallow edges and move toward deeper waters
• B. Apply to the center of the pond first
• C. Apply only to shorelines
• D. Apply at night to reduce visibility of the chemicals

Answer: (A)

Starting at the shallow edges and moving toward deeper waters uses the pond’s natural mixing and dilution to protect fish. When you treat the near-shore zones first, you’re applying in areas where the water is shallower and mixing is more immediate. As you progress outward and into deeper water, the larger water volume rapidly dilutes any remaining chemical, lowering the exposure risk for fish that spend time in deeper areas. This pattern also helps ensure more complete coverage of the pond without creating concentrated pockets in areas where fish may be present, and it avoids leaving untreated zones along the shoreline.

Applying only to shorelines would miss the deeper habitats that fish use, and applying first to the center would risk exposing more fish to higher concentrations before they’re diluted. Applying at night doesn’t address the distribution and exposure pattern in the water.