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Before You Build a Pond: 10 Important Questions
and Answers John M. Jemison, Jr., Extension water quality and soil specialist Landowners frequently call the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) offices with questions regarding pond construction. The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide people with a few things to think about before they start to build a pond. Often times, landowners can save money and trouble if they ask appropriate questions. 1. Why do you want a pond? This may be the most important question to ask.
It will affect or determine the size, cost, depth, quality of pond
construction and many other factors. There are many uses for ponds,
including recreation, irrigation, livestock watering and wildlife. Knowing
the major uses of the pond will affect aquatic plants and animals and many
other factors. 2. Where do you want to build it? Some people think that they can build a pond
anywhere they want. There are specific conditions that are needed.
Generally, developing a natural spring formed in a fine-textured soil with a
high percentage of clay is most desirable. Here are some important questions
to ask yourself:
3. Are you aware of all the
regulatory issues involved with constructing a pond? Many people spend a great deal of time trying
to get a pond permitted that likely won’t get regulatory approval. Please
refer to bulletin #2376, “Laws and Regulation
Requirements to Consider Before You Build a Pond” for a list of essential
regulations that you need to be aware of. 4. Will your pond have an inlet or an
outlet? This can have a
major impact on what you can legally do from a maintenance perspective. For
example, herbicides generally can not be used in a pond if the pond feeds
into a stream that runs off the landowner’s property. 5. Does your town have specific
permits that you need to obtain? Some towns also need to issue a permit for pond
construction. Check with your town for more information. 6. What is the water source for your
pond? If there is a wet depression, intermittent
stream or other area that you want to develop, you may want to consider what
land use is going on above the area. Is there a large cattle or dairy
operation or other land use upslope from the pond that could affect the
quality of the water in the pond? If so, another location may be better. 7. Do you want to swim in the water? If swimming is one of your main uses for your
pond, you may want to construct the sides of the pond less steeply than if
your goal is to provide wildlife habitat. Also, you may want to lay filter
fabric above a clay bottom before building your sand beach to prevent clay
from moving into your sand beach. 8. Have you contacted your insurance
agent to be sure your pond will not constitute a nuisance hazard? Sometimes pools, ponds and other potentially
dangerous water sources will cause insurance companies to increase your
liability rates. It is a good idea to check before you start your
construction. 9. Are you aware of the cost
involved? At the minimum, you can expect to pay between
$2,000 and $25,000 for your pond. Many things, including site preparation,
location, size and depth, will influence the final cost of your pond. 10. Are you going to look for cost
share on the construction costs? If you plan on using your pond for irrigation or as a livestock watering source, it is possible that some cost share may be available to you from a Consolidated Farm Services Agency program. However, budget cuts are making funds difficult to obtain. If your pond will be used only for recreation (swimming, wildlife, etc.), cost-sharing will probably not be available to you. Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Regional Offices
© 2002 Extension books and publications homepage Published and distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Land Grant University of the state of Maine and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Cooperative Extension and other agencies of the U.S.D.A. provide equal opportunities in programs and employment. Call 800-287-0274 or TDD 800-287-8957 (in Maine), or 207-581-3188, for information on publications and program offerings from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, or visit www.extension.umaine.edu.
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Last
Modified:
08/19/09
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