Aquaculture
Site Evaluation Questionnaire
This survey can help you determine if a site proposed for aquaculture production meets the basic requirements for natural and personal resources needed to successfully operate an aquaculture business. Prospective producers should complete as much of the survey as possible. Your county Extension agent may need to help collect some of the more technical information. If a proposed production site appears to meet the basic criteria, a copy of this survey, along with the water quality report from a certified laboratory should be forwarded to the WVU Extension aquaculture specialist for further evaluation. Based on the results of this survey and the water quality tests, an on-site evaluation may be conducted. 1. Personal information for potential producer Name: _____________________________________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________ Email: ________________________________ Fax: _________________________________ County: _______________________________ Are you interested in aquaculture as a business or as a hobby? ___________________________ Do you plan to run an aquaculture operation as a full-time or part-time occupation? _____________________ If you are currently employed, how many hours of work per week do you work? ______________________ How did you become interested in aquaculture? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Is there a particular species of interest to you? __________________________________________________________________________ Have you investigated the marketability of this species? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ 2. Water source information What is the source of water you propose to use for aquaculture? spring _____ river _____ well _____ lake _____ stream _____ pond _____ other _____ Do you own the property where the source of water is located? _________________________ If you do not own the property where the water source is located, is there a potential for a long-term lease of the water source (minimum 10 years) with few restrictions on development or use of the source? ___________________________________________________________ Has the water from this source been tested for aquaculture? if so, please attach laboratory results. For information on basic water tests necessary for aquaculture, Water Quality for Aquaculture information is available. What is the flow produced by this water source (gallons per minute) or what is the surface acreage of the pond(s) proposed for use? __________________________________________________________________________ Flow or surface acreage should be measured during the low-flow months of June, July, August, and September. For assistance with flow or surface acreage measurements, please contact the WVU County Extension Office. For information on how to measure water flow, contact Kenneth Semmens, Extension Specialist - Aquaculture. Is there historical data from previous owners, etc., to indicate the effect of seasonal changes on flow rates or surface acreage of the proposed water source? __________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ 3. Physical characteristics of the proposed site Do you own the property where you plan to build a production system? _______ Topography of the proposed production site:
Estimated elevation of proposed production site: __________ ft. What is the estimated distance from the water source to the site of the planned production system? _________________________________________________________________________ Is there a drop in elevation from the water source to the site of the planned production system? If so, how many vertical feet of drop are measured form the water source to the planned production site? ______________________________ For assistance with the measurement of elevational drop, the client should contact the closest Natural Resources Conservation Service office or a private contractor to shoot a transit of the site. Is there road access to the site of the proposed production system? ______________________ Condition of the road: Paved _____ Dirt _____ Gravel _____ No road access _____ Is the road maintained during winter? _____________________________________________ Distance from the proposed production site to the closest state route or interstate: ________ miles What is the nearest population center to the proposed production site? _________________________________________________________________________ Is there a residence on or near the proposed production site? ___________________________ Is the residence occupied year-round? ____________________________________________ Is there electrical access to the proposed site? ______________________________________ Is there security for the site such as fencing, lighting, etc.? ______________________________ Is the site currently used for other livestock or crop production? _________________________ If so, what livestock or crops?
What is the land use history of the site? Pasture ______ Light crop production ______ Heavy crop production ______ Industrial ______ Mining ______ Timbering ______ Other (specify) ________ Have pesticides been used on the soil in the past and if so, which ones? ____________________________ _____________________________ ____________________________ _____________________________ Are there any watershed activities or planned activities, such as timbering, which
could affect the __________________________________________________________________________ Is the proposed aquaculture site located within the flood plain or in an area considered to be a wetland? __________________________________________________________________________ If ponds are being considered, is there a supplemental water source that can provide at least 12 gallons per minute of water to EACH production pond during the dry months? __________________________________________________________________________ Where will the effluent water from the proposed aquaculture system drain? __________________________________________________________________________ If ponds are being considered, is there room to expand later with additional ponds? __________________________________________________________________________ 4. Aquaculture production using existing pond(s) (Complete this section only if the proposed production site is an existing pond.) How old is the pond? ___________________________ What is the surface acreage? _____________________square feet What is the AVERAGE depth of the pond? _________________feet Current uses of the pond: livestock watering _______ fishing _______ swimming _______ irrigation _______ ornamental _______ wildlife habitat _______ Other _____________________________________________________________________ Does the pond freeze over in the winter? ___________________________________________ How warm is the pond water at the surface during the summer months? ____________________ Does the pond lose considerable water volume during the dry summer months? ___________________ Does the pond leak? __________________________________________________________ Is the pond accessible on all sides? _______________________________________________ Is there a levy or pond bank which is wide enough to accommodate a large truck? ____________ Do you currently stock the pond? ________________________________________________ If so, how often do you stock and what species do you stock? ___________________________ What size and species of fish do you frequently catch from the pond? ______________________ Do you have problems with recurring aquatic weed or algae infestations? ___________________ Have you ever observed dead or dying fish in the pond, especially in early summer or late fall? __________________________________________________________________________ Does the pond receive any fresh water in the hot months of the year from another water source such as a spring or stream? _____________________________________________________ Is the pond water clear or cloudy and turbid? _______________________________________ Does the pond become excessively cloudy following a rainstorm? ________________________ Have you noticed any of the following animals around your pond: muskrats ______ fish-eating birds (such as herons, kingfishers or eagles) _____ burrowing crayfish ______ mink ______ snakes ______ racoons ______ 5. Construction of pond(s) for aquaculture (Complete this section only if you intend to build new ponds for aquaculture production.) Do you have enough flat area for at least two � acre production ponds with access all the way around both ponds? _________________________________________________________ Have you had a soil test for clay content conducted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service office? _____________________________________________________________ Do you have access to construction equipment or will you have to contract the construction? _________________________________________________________________________ Potential producers interested in aquaculture pond construction should contact the nearest Natural Resources Conservation Service office for consultation on production pond design and estimates of construction costs. Note. Aquaculture production ponds are designed relatively the same way forproduction of most fish species. A key factor for successful aquaculture production inponds is the design of the pond drain for water quality maintenance and for harvest. A notable exception to basic aquaculture pond design is the design of ponds for the culture of bait minnows. For more specific information on these issues, contact theWVU Extension aquaculture specialist. 6. Final information Have you ever raised fish before? _______________________________________________ Have you raised other livestock? ________________________________________________ Have you begun a business plan for your proposed aquaculture operation? _________________ Information on developing aquaculture budgets and business plans is available from your WVU county Extension agent. Will you need to seek financing to start your aquaculture business? _______________________ From whom do you plan to seek financing? ________________________________________ Will you have assistance to operate your aquaculture business? __________________________ If so, who will assist you? ______________________________________________________ How close is your proposed aquaculture operation to a source of fingerlings, feed, processing? _________________________________________________________________________ Some species are prohibited from development for commercial culture in West Virginia. Have you checked to make sure there are no regulatory constraints for the species you are interested in raising? ___________________________________________________________________ If not, check with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture or the WVU Extension aquaculture specialist for information. |
Written by: Agnes V. Spicer, West Virginia University Extension, Aquaculture Specialist. 1997
