The pond covers approximately 3.5 acres and was created 35 years ago by damming up the area that was the natural drain for our homesite, as well as another 100 acres or so just north of the house. If there is a good rain, not uncommon here in Louisiana, it is very likely that water from just about anywhere on the homesite will end up in the pond. As the pond provides recreation as well as a great deal of food for us, we are hyper-aware of what may enter the water.
The garden is where it is for several reasons: (1) it is one of the only parts of the yard that is not shaded by huge trees, many much older than you and I; (2) it is the best soil on the homesite, we believe because for decades it was the site of the cow yard and barn; and (3) with 150 feet of hose I have access to the water faucet at the garden shed.
As always, you have provided me with information that I did not have ... which is that after a time Rotenone becomes inert. Thank you. I will do some further reading on this product to determine if it will be useful to my yard and garden area in limited amounts.
The eco-nuts you work with would love the stories of my late FIL who, back during the early part of the 20th century, applied DDT or some such poison to cotton barehanded from a croaker sack with no mask, while riding a mule. They might be interested to know that he lived to be 98.5 years old ... 97 of those years in excellent health. ;-)
Frogs??? Do not even go there please! We have so many of those creatures that the nightime hours are deafening with their songs. And they don't do nearly enough bug eating, being as how Louisiana has to be the bug capitol of the entire world. Well, maybe some hellhole in Africa or Asia has more, but I seriously doubt that.
I concur on the bug population. Not much bothers me, but I'm not crazy about big bugs.
It's nearly grasshopper time up here; I absolutely HATE walking the dogs down the lane while grasshoppers jump on me, but it's good exercise because it makes me walk really, really fast! :)
Another note on Rotenone: It's the only insecticide that can be used on Raspberry canes. It's the only thing we've found that kills the Japanese Beetles up here this time of year. You can use it up until the day you pick, it's that safe for human consumption.