Recently I was asked what could be done about clearing up the water in a new pond. There are several possible answers to this question.
1) Add agricultural lime to the pond around the edges and allow wave action to help dissolve the lime and move it around in the pond.

2) Add and separate into pieces several square bales of any type of hay. This will rot, add nutrients and change the chemical makeup of the water allowing the clay particles to settle out.

3) Plant grass around the edge of the pond to reduce the speed of the incoming runoff allowing the soil particles to settle out or be filtered.