groundworks and excavations - Ponds and small Lakes
Who wouldn’t want a backyard pond for sparkling water, dockside fishing, or enhanced property values? Before you move the heavy equipment in, take time to review your goals, determine whether you have a pond site, and apply for the appropriate permits. It could save you from digging a very expensive, dry hole in the ground.
Ponds can be a place to relax, provide a water source, or enhance wildlife habitat. It stands to reason, not all uses can be expected from one pond. Your first step in planning a pond is to sort out what your priorities are and what uses can coexist:
Pond Construciton
Fishing Lakes and farm ponds are not mother nature’s creations; they are the work of human beings. They must be managed to be productive and provide good fishing. Think of a pond as you would a garden or orchard. It must be properly laid out, fertilized, planted (stocked), weeded, pruned (in this case selectively harvested) . All of this takes time and effort but the rewards are outdoor recreation and good food.
| Use | Features |
| Fish Production: |
- 1 acre or more in size; 10-foot minimum depth
- Screened inlets and outlets to retain fish
- Cold-water fish, like trout and salmon, require cool, clean, and oxygenated water; These fish may require a cool water source in the summer when water temperature is high and dissolved oxygen is low
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| Stockwater Supply: |
- Pond is sized according to the number and type of animals; A beef cow or horse needs 15 gallons, a hog 4 gallons, and a sheep 2 gallons per day for drinking water
- Fence around the pond maintains clean drinking water
- Pipe through the dam supplies water to a tank or nose pump outside of the fence
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| Irrigation Water: |
- Pond is sized according to crop needs and evaporation
- High water demand of irrigation limits use to small acreages and high value crops
- Drip irrigation and irrigation management may stretch out water supply
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| Fire Protection: |
- Pond is sized according to fire-fighting needs; A typical firehose uses a ¼ acre-foot of water over five hours
- Location is near house and buildings
- A pump and hose or an all-weather access point for fire trucks may be needed to provide access to water
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| Recreation Area: |
- Pond depth is more than 3 feet to discourage aquatic weeds from growing on the bottom
- Pond slopes are less than a 3:1 ratio (3 feet horizontal for every 1-foot vertical) to allow swimmers to climb up banks
- Swimming areas may have an installation of geotextile fabric and sand to discourage plant growth
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| Wildlife Habitat: |
- Pond depth is less than 3 feet over two-thirds of the water area to encourage plants that provide food and cover for wildlife
- Pond slopes are 6:1 or flatter to encourage plant growth
- Pond bottom is uneven to encourage plant diversity
- Land surrounding pond is important for food and cover; A nearby field can provide nesting and a shrub clump may connect the pond to an upland forest
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Please contact us for information.