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ANR-1114

A L A B A M A A & M A N D A U B U R N U N I V E R S I T I E S

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Pond Building:A Guide to Planning, Constructing,and Maintaining Recreational Ponds

Introduction

Aproperly located, well-constructed pond canbe a beautiful addition to a landscape. Ponds

provide owners with excellent recreational activi-ties such as fishing, swimming, and wildlife view-ing as well as potential water sources for livestockwatering, irrigation, and fire fighting.

The purpose of this publication is to provideprospective pond owners with the basic informa-tion needed to understand the process involved inestablishing and maintaining a quality pond (Figure1). The information is intended to enable landown-ers to avoid costly mistakes, to communicate moreeffectively with pond contractors, and to be suc-cessful at building and maintaining the best possi-ble pond.

Selecting a Pond SiteThe process of choosing a pond site is at least

as important, if not more so, than the actual con-struction process. Selecting a pond site involvesmore than just arbitrarily deciding to “put it overyonder,” just as building a pond involves more thanjust “digging a hole.” Unfortunately, many sites arenot suitable for ponds. Minor problems may be cor-rectable at some sites; other sites are doomed forfailure no matter how well the pond is constructed.To have a reasonable chance of having a goodpond, the prospective pond owner should beaware of the basic criteria necessary for a site to besuitable for pond construction. These criteria in-clude the safety of the location, the water-holdingcapacity of the soil in the pond, the geologic make-up and topography of the pond site, and the char-acteristics of the watershed, or drainage area.

Pond SafetyDuring the planning stages, do not overlook

the possibility of dam failure and the resulting dam-age from the sudden release of water. If possible,do not locate your pond where failure of the damcould cause loss of life; injury to persons or live-stock; damage to residences, industrial buildings,railroads, or highways; or interrupted use of publicutilities. If the only suitable pond site presents oneor more of these hazards, hire an engineer experi-enced in pond design to reduce the possibility offailure from improper design or construction.

Be sure that no buried pipelines or cables crossthe proposed pond site. They could be broken orpunctured by the excavating equipment, which canresult not only in damage to the utility but also ininjury to the operator of the equipment. If it is nec-essary to use a site crossed by pipelines or cable,you must notify the utility company before startingconstruction and obtain permission to dig. TheAlabama Line Location Center (1-800-292-8525) canalso locate all utility lines. Avoid sites under powerlines. The wires may be within reach of a fishingrod held by someone fishing on the pond.

Pond Construction Process

1. Site SelectionSafety Considerations

SoilsGeology and TopographyWater SourcesWetland Restrictions

2. Planning and DesignType of PondPond Size and DesignWater Control Structures

3. ConstructionPermits and Site SurveyHiring a ContractorSite Preparation

4. Establishing Vegetative Cover

5. Maintenance

Figure 1. Pond Construction Process

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Ponds, like any body of water, attract people sothat there is always a chance of injury or drowning.No matter what the purpose of the pond, you cannever tell what a small child passing by may do.While Alabama currently has no state laws govern-ing the design, construction, or operation of apond, you may be liable in the case of injury ordeath resulting from use of your pond whether youauthorized such use or not. This is particularly im-portant if you intend to open your pond to thepublic and charge a fee for its use. You may findthat you will need to protect yourself with liabilityinsurance coverage.

If the pond is to be used for swimming, guardsmust be installed over pipe openings. All undesir-able trees, stumps, brush, rubbish, junk, and fencesthat might be hazardous to boats or swimmersshould be removed. Mark safe swimming areas,and place warning signs at all danger points. Life-saving devices should be properly located to facili-tate rescue operations should the need arise.

Soils in the PondThe composition of soils in Alabama is highly

variable. Soils range from almost pure sands in theCoastal Plain to heavy clays in the Black Belt.Variation in soil texture can vary with depth andcan change drastically over short distances. Thesuitability of a pond site depends on the ability ofthe soils in the reservoir area to hold water. Thesoil should contain a layer that is impervious andthick enough (usually a 2-foot minimum) to pre-vent excessive seepage. Soils made of clay or siltyclay are excellent for ponds; sandy clays are usual-ly satisfactory. Coarse-textured sands and sand-gravel mixtures do not hold water well and are un-suitable for ponds.

If there is poor soil over a portion of the pondbottom, you can sometimes make it impervious byimporting and compacting a good-quality clay soil orby incorporating bentonite clay into the pond bot-tom. However, sealing pond bottoms can be very ex-pensive (see Leaky Ponds). If soils are determinedto be questionable, choosing a secondary pond sitewith good soils may be the best alternative.

The soil profile under the proposed dam is alsovery important to the ultimate success of the water-holding ability of the pond. Over time, the pondedwater can seep beneath the constructed dam.Therefore, the dam and its foundation must besealed with impervious soil material to preventseepage beneath the dam (see Cutoff Trench andDam Core).

GeologySome limestone areas of Alabama are especially

hazardous as pond sites. There may be invisiblecrevices, sinkholes, or caverns in the limestonebelow the surface soil. Building in these sites mayresult in a badly leaking pond. In addition, manysoils in these areas are granular and remain highlypermeable even when wetted. Pond sites in lime-stone areas should be thoroughly investigatedusing both geologic and laboratory analyses beforethe construction of a pond is planned. Althoughthere are no guarantees, a good indication of thesuitability of a pond site in one of these areas (orany area) is the degree of success others have hadwith farm ponds in the immediate vicinity.

TopographyThe topography, or lay of the land, determines

the ultimate construction cost of the pond morethan any other single factor. For economic reasons,try to locate the pond where the largest storagevolume can be obtained with the least amount ofearthfill for a dam. A good site usually is onewhere a dam can be built between two ridgescrossing a narrow section of a valley that is imme-diately downstream of a broad section of valley.This permits a large area to be flooded. Such sitesalso minimize the area of shallow water in thepond, which can be undesirable.

People inexperienced in pond design and con-struction sometimes think that ponds are alwaysexcavated in order to store water. In reality, exca-vated ponds are the most expensive to constructper volume of water stored. Therefore, always con-sider a site where the water is stored abovegroundbehind a small earthen dam.

Tip to Remember

The importance of careful site selection and proper con-struction cannot be overemphasized as means of keeping

seepage losses to a minimum. Cutting corners in theseareas will often come back to haunt the pond owner. Theuse of after-the-fact seepage reduction methods ranks asonly a distant second choice when compared to doing it

right the first time.

Pond Building 3

Watershed/Drainage AreaFor ponds in which surface runoff is the main

source of water, the contributing drainage area, orwatershed, must be large enough to fill and main-tain adequate water in the pond during droughts.However, the drainage area should not be so largethat expensive overflow structures are needed tobypass excess runoff during storms.

Some characteristics of a watershed that directlyaffect the yield of water are the slope of the land,soil infiltration, and plant cover. These interrelatedfactors are variable and site-specific. There are noset rules for determining the exact size watershedneeded to fill and maintain a given size pond.However, there are some rules of thumb that can beused. For example, some watersheds containingmostly pasture with heavy clay soils may need only5 acres of land for each surface acre of water. At theopposite extreme, a sandy watershed in a woodedarea may need 30 acres or more of land to con-tribute runoff for each surface acre of ponded water.

If the drainage area is too small in relation tothe pond size, the pond may not adequately fill, orthe water level may drop too low during extendedperiods of hot, dry weather. Shallow water con-tributes to excessive aquatic weed problems andpotentially to fish kills from low dissolved oxygenwhen average depth is less than 3 feet.

Ponds with excessive drainage areas can be dif-ficult to manage for fish production. They tend tobe muddy, silt-in rapidly, and have erosion prob-lems in the spillway area. Runoff from oversizeddrainage areas can flush out much of the micro-scopic plant and animal life that form the base ofthe food chain for fish, thus lowering pond produc-tivity. Fish may also leave the pond during overflowfrom heavy rains. Contamination of ponds with wildfish from either upstream or downstream sources ismore likely when watershed size is excessive.

To avoid potential pollution of pond water, selecta location where drainage from farmsteads, feedlots,sewage lines, dumps, industrial and urban sites, andother similar areas does not reach the pond.

In order for the planned depth and capacity ofa pond to be maintained, the inflow must be rea-sonably free of silt from an eroding watershed. Thebest protection is adequate erosion control on thecontributing drainage area. Land under permanentcover of trees or grasses is the most desirabledrainage area. If such land is not available, treat thewatershed with proper conservation practices tocontrol erosion before constructing the pond.

Water Sources and QualityThe three sources of water for filling ponds are

rainfall runoff, groundwater, and surface water,each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

Rainfall RunoffThe primary source of water for embankment

ponds is rainfall runoff from the drainage or water-shed area surrounding the pond. Rainfall runoff canbe an excellent “free” source of water, dependingon the physical and chemical characteristics of thewatershed. The best runoff water source for pondsis a watershed containing undisturbed, well-vege-tated cover such as timberland or grassland.Unvegetated watersheds should be avoided be-cause of the potential for excessive muddiness andpremature siltation of the pond. Watersheds con-taining concentrated livestock feeding areas oroverfertilized pastures can result in problems dueto excessive nutrients and other contaminants en-tering the pond. Watersheds with cropland receiv-ing regular pesticide applications are of concernbecause of the potential for pond contaminationfrom runoff or spray drift. Ponds receiving runofffrom cropland should have a good buffer zone ofgrass or sod between the cropland and the pond toserve as a filter for potential soil erosion and pesti-cide runoff.

GroundwaterGroundwater pumped from wells, where avail-

able, can serve as either a primary water source fora levee or excavated pond or as a supplementarysource to ponds with inadequate watersheds or ex-cessive seepage. Advantages of well water includeabsence of wild fish and, generally, good waterquality. Disadvantages include construction costand maintenance, potential inadequate water yield,and pumping costs.

Surface WaterSurface water from nearby springs, streams,

rivers, or reservoirs that have good water qualitycan be used as a pond water source. Waterpumped from these sources should be filtered toremove wild fish, fish eggs, and larvae. However, itis difficult to prevent wild fish from contaminatinga pond that is supplied by surface water.


Wetland RestrictionsGood pond sites in Alabama will sometimes in-

clude land areas classified as wetlands. Wetlandsinclude marshes, swamps, and shallow areas thatpool water seasonally and support wetland-typeplants such as bulrush, cattails, cypress trees, andother hydrophytic vegetation. Wetlands are amongthe most biologically productive natural ecosystemsin the world. They provide many benefits includingfood and habitat for fish and wildlife, flood protec-tion, natural products for human use, water qualityimprovement, and opportunities for recreation,education, and research.

If wetlands are present on a pond site, they mustbe identified before construction of the pond.Federal wetland programs such as Section 404 of theClean Water Act and Swampbuster provisions of theFood Security Act may apply to private landownerswho construct ponds in areas considered to be wet-lands. Always check with the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers or the USDA Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS) before construction todetermine which specific law or regulation mayapply to you. In some cases, it may be necessary toobtain a permit or additional planning assistance.

If wetlands are present (depending on the typeand amount), locating an alternative pond site with-out significant wetlands may be the best alternative.That way, paperwork and possible litigation can beavoided and, most importantly, the wetland and itsbenefits to the environment will be preserved.

Landscape PlanningWater adds variety to a landscape and further

enhances its quality. Reflections in water attract theeye and help create a contrast or focal point in thelandscape. A pond visible from a home, patio, orentrance road increases the attractiveness of thelandscape and often improves land value. Goodlandscape design techniques include considerationof size, site visibility, relationship to the surround-ing landscape and use patterns, and shoreline con-figuration.

Where possible, locate the pond (or the house)so that the major sight line crosses the longest di-mension of water surface. The pond should beplaced so that a viewer will see the water first be-fore noticing the dam, pipe inlet, or spillway.Often, minor changes in the dam alignment andspillway location can shift these elements out ofview and reduce their prominence.

When feasible, locate the pond so that someexisting trees and shrubs remain along part of theshoreline. Shoreline trees and shrubs add interestby casting reflections on the water, provide shade

on summer days, and help blend the pond into thesurrounding landscape. However, a pond com-pletely surrounded by trees will appear smallerthan a pond the same size without trees or withfew trees. Ponds constructed in woods should havethe cleared limits irregularly shaped to provide anatural-appearing edge and open area. Furthertransition with vegetated surroundings can be ac-complished by feathering clearing edges. Densityand height of vegetation can be increased progres-sively from the water’s edge to the undisturbedvegetation. The shape of a pond should comple-ment its surroundings. Irregular shapes withsmooth, flowing shorelines are generally morecompatible with the lines of countryside landscape.

Types of PondsEmbankment Ponds

The most common type of pond in Alabama isthe embankment pond, also called watershed pondor hill pond (Figure 2). A watershed is the drainagearea around the pond within which rainfall drainstoward the pond. A dam or embankment is con-structed in a depression between two hills andserves to impound water in a basin area on the up-stream side of the dam. This type of pond is bestsuited for areas with slightly to moderately rollingtopography.

Figure 2. Embankment pond (not to scale)

Embankment ponds usually depend on rainfallrunoff to fill and then maintain water levels. Pondsize, shape, and depth are limited by the topogra-phy of the site and the size of the watershed drain-ing to the pond. Generally, the steeper the slope ofthe pond site, the smaller the pond that can be con-structed. Well-sited embankment ponds generallyrequire the least amount of earthmoving per acre ofwater impounded compared to other types ofponds. Because construction costs are based largelyon the amount of earthmoving, an embankment

Pond Building 5

pond is generally the least expensive type of pondper surface acre of water to construct.

Building a dam across a large, permanentstream is not a recommended practice for con-structing a pond. Following heavy rainfall, streamsoften carry large amounts of suspended sedimentsthat will settle out in the pond and severely shortenits useful life. Ponds fed by large streams can bedifficult to manage for fishing due to competitionfrom wild fish, the introduction of fish diseases,and the inability to effectively fertilize the ponddue to excessive outflow.

Excavated PondsExcavated, or “dug,” ponds are constructed al-

most entirely below original ground level (Figure3). This construction method is usually used onlyfor construction of small ponds (generally less than1⁄2 acre) because of the large amount of earthmov-ing required in relation to the size of the pond.Excavated ponds may require an external watersource to fill and maintain the pond if springs,groundwater, or runoff are not sufficient. An exca-vated pond is usually the most expensive type ofpond to construct on a per-acre basis.

Combination Watershed-Levee PondsAn example of a combination watershed-levee

pond would be a two- or three-sided levee pondthat connects to an existing hill to form its otherside (Figure 5). Depending on the site, the hill sideof the pond can provide a significant amount ofwatershed runoff to the pond, thus reducing and,in some cases, eliminating the need for pumpingwater to fill and maintain the pond.

Figure 3. Typical section of an excavated pond (not to scale)

Place excavated materialabove waterline, and slopeto drain.

3:1 slope below waterlinefor safety

Original groundExcavated groundline

Waterline

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Figure 4. Typical section of a levee pond (not to scale)

Use excavated material to construct alevee around edges of pond.

Original groundExcavated groundline

Waterline

3:1 slope below waterline for safety

Figure 5. Combination watershed-levee pond (not to scale)

Pond Design and LayoutTechnical Assistance

Proper construction of a pond must be preced-ed by proper planning and design. The major con-siderations to be determined in planning and de-signing a pond are the size and shape of the pondand the water control structures required.

For small ponds, the Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama may pro-vide free planning, design, and construction assis-tance to private landowners in the state. The NRCShas been the recognized expert in this area for over60 years. However, due to workload and work-force, the NRCS in some counties may only provide

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Levee PondsSuitable for flat or nearly flat land, levee ponds

are only partially excavated. Earth from what is tobe the basin area of the pond is removed and usedto construct the sides, or levees, of the pond thatimpound the water (Figure 4). The water level in alevee pond is higher than the original ground level.Water depth is usually similar throughout the pondand is regulated by the height of the outlet pipesand constructed levees. An externally pumpedwater source, such as a well or creek, will be nec-essary to fill and maintain this type of pond due tothe absence of a watershed. Per-acre constructioncosts of levee ponds generally fall between thoseof watershed and excavated ponds.


limited assistance on ponds. Private consultants(professional engineers) are available to providethis assistance for a fee.

Pond SizingThe size of an embankment pond should be

relative to the size of the watershed (drainage area)contributing runoff to the site. Ponds with too littlewatershed will have difficulty filling up and remain-ing full during drought conditions, and ponds withtoo much watershed require expensive water con-trol structures and are difficult to manage (seeWatershed/Drainage Area).

To ensure a permanent water supply, the waterin the pond must be deep enough to meet the in-tended use requirements and to offset probableseepage and evaporation losses. The minimum rec-ommended depth of water for ponds in Alabama is6 to 7 feet. Greater minimum depths are needed forponds in which a permanent or year-round watersupply is essential, such as for irrigation or firefighting, or where seepage is more than normal.Most typical farm ponds in Alabama have 10 to 15feet of water at the dam.

The estimated capacity, or volume, of the pondcan be determined by multiplying the surface areaof the pond in acres by 0.4 times the maximumwater depth in feet measured at the dam. For ex-ample, a pond with a surface area of 3.2 acres anda depth of 12.5 feet at the dam has an approximatecapacity of 16 acre-feet (0.4 x 3.2 x 12.5 = 16 acre-feet); (1 acre-foot = 325,851 gallons). An exact ca-pacity of the pond can be obtained only throughdetailed surveys and calculations.

Pond ShapingUsually, some simple techniques can be used

during planning and construction to shape thepond so that it blends with the surrounding topog-raphy and landscape. For example, additionalearthfill can be placed on the back slope and abut-ments of the dam to achieve landform transition.This technique will keep the dam from being sucha prominent feature in the landscape. Borrow ma-terial needed to construct the dam can also be sal-vaged along the shoreline of the pond to helpdeepen the water along the edge as well as providea more pleasing curvilinear shoreline.

Water Control StructuresEach pond site is unique and therefore requires

an individualized design. The hydrology of the wa-tershed must be determined to get an accurate ac-count of different storm runoffs. A smaller-magni-tude storm is used to design the pipe overflowsystem (principal spillway), and a larger-magnitudestorm is used to design the emergency spillway thatallows the runoff from that storm to safely bypassthe dam. This larger storm also establishes the top-of-dam elevation that includes adequate freeboard,which is the distance between the designed flow ofthe emergency spillway and the top of the dam,usually about 1 foot (Figure 6). Future conditionsmust also be considered when designing the pond.For example, changes in a watershed, such asclear-cutting or urbanization, can significantlychange the volume and rate of runoff produced bythe storms.

Tip to Remember

Fish are stocked based on pond surface acreage, not depth.A pond that maintains an average depth of 15 feet produces no more fish than a pond

maintaining a 6-foot average depth.

Ponds should have a minimum average depthof 3 to 4 feet throughout the year to maintain ahealthy fish population. For more information onmanaging ponds for fishing, see Extension CircularsANR-577, “Management of Recreational Fish Pondsin Alabama,” and ANR-826, “Management ofRecreational Catfish Ponds in Alabama.”

Emergency spillwayflow elevationTrash rack

Permanentwater level

Principalspillwayriser

Slide gateor othercontrol de-vice

Concrete footing(ballast)

Antiseepcollars

Principal spillwaybarrel pipe

Cutoff trench

Originalground

Core

Riprap outlet protection

Emergency spillwayelevation

Top of damFreeboard

Figure 6. Typical cross section of dam along centerline of principalspillway (not to scale)

Pond Building 7

Principal SpillwayThe principal spillway through the dam is de-

signed to control runoff from a smaller-designstorm and has several key components. The pipethrough the dam, often referred to as the barrelpipe, should have an antiseep collar(s) installed onthe outside to ensure that water from the ponddoes not leak between the outside surface of thebarrel pipe and the earthfill of the dam (Figure 7).

The vertical pipe attached to the barrel pipe atthe upstream side of the dam is called the riser(Figure 9). The riser pipe must be adequately sizedto deliver water to the barrel pipe and is usually11⁄2 to 2 pipe sizes larger than the barrel pipe. Atrash rack must be placed on the riser pipe to keepfloating debris from clogging the pipe system. Asleeve-type trash rack can be used for deep-waterrelease to help improve the pond water quality.Keep in mind that the riser pipe has a tendency tofloat. Attach a concrete counterweight of the appro-priate size to the base of the riser to counteractbuoyancy.

As an alternative to the conventional barrel andriser principal spillway system, a siphon pipe spill-way can also be used. The siphon should be con-sidered for older ponds that are being renovatedand require a new principal spillway system. Thesiphon spillway is a closed conduit system formedin the shape of an inverted V over the dam and po-sitioned so that the crest of the siphon is at the nor-mal water surface elevation. Siphoning action be-gins when the air in the siphon tube has beenexhausted. An air vent is provided to break thesiphon action when the pond surface is drawndown to the normal water surface elevation. Thesiphon system must be periodically checked andmaintained since a plugged air vent could causethe pond to drain.

The principal spillway pipe system can be con-structed of many different kinds of materials includ-ing steel, corrugated metal, and various types ofplastic. If plastic is used, protection from ultra-vio-let light must be provided, and the outlet of thepipe must be protected from damage by fire.

Emergency spillwayflow elevation

Trash rack

Diaphragm drain in lieu of antiseep collars

Principalspillwayriser

Slide gateor

other control device

Concrete footing(ballast)

Principal spillwaybarrel pipe

Cutoff trench

Originalground

Core

Riprap outlet protection

Emergency spill-way elevation

Top of damFreeboard

Figure 8. Typical cross section of dam along centerline of principalspillway (not to scale)

Figure 7. Pipe being prepared for installation through dam (barrelpipe) with antiseep collar attached

Figure 9. Principal spillway showing barrel pipe connected to riserpipe with concrete counterweight attached to base of riser tocounteract buoyancy

Permanent water level

Achieving good compaction of the earthfill aroundthe barrel pipe is extremely important. This area isoften the weakest portion of the earthfill and wherethe majority of dams fail. As an alternative to anti-seep collars, a filter and drainage diaphragm can beinstalled around the barrel pipe (Figure 8). Thissystem collects seepage and channels it through thedam without eroding the area around the barrelpipe. Contact your local NRCS office for detailedinformation on the design and installation of a filterand diaphragm seepage control system.


Emergency SpillwayThe emergency spillway for the pond is de-

signed so runoff from larger storms can be carriedsafely around the dam (see Figure 2). The spillwayis generally located on one end of the dam inundisturbed soil and should be well vegetated withgrass to reduce erosion. The flow through theemergency spillway should be shallow, slow, anduniform to minimize the possibility of the spillwayeroding and causing failure of the dam.

Sizing Water Control StructuresTypical barrel pipe sizes range from 4 to 30

inches in diameter, and riser pipes range from 6 to48 inches in diameter. Emergency spillways can beanywhere from 10 to 50 feet wide or wider. The ac-tual size of the principal spillway pipes and theemergency spillway width and elevation should bedetermined using approved design techniques andby qualified individuals. Improperly designed spill-ways could create an unsafe dam and place undueliability on the owner.

Livestock Watering AccessWater from a pond is often used as a primary

source of drinking water for livestock. However,the practice of allowing cattle unrestricted access toa pond has detrimental effects on the pond waterquality, the health of the cattle, and the vegetativecover on the dam and shoreline (see LimitingLivestock Access). Cattle should be fenced out ofthe pond and off the dam. Limited access for cattleat a planned location (watering ramp) can be pro-vided; however, the best alternative is to fence cat-tle entirely out of the pond and provide water bygravity-flow into a trough below the pond.

If a watering ramp is provided, cattle shouldhave access to the pond only at the ramp location,with a walking surface protected with geotextile fil-ter fabric covered with crushed stone (Figure 10).

This will allow the cattle access to the pond with-out miring in mud to get to the water. Any poten-tial shade around the watering ramp should beeliminated to keep cattle from loafing in or nearthe pond.

A watering trough below a fenced pond hasproven to be one of the best livestock wateringsystems (Figure 11). A trough or tank is placeddownstream of the dam and connected to the pondwater by a 11⁄2-inch plastic pipe. The intake in thepond should have a strainer and be located to en-sure a supply of water during drought conditions.The outlet in the trough should be equipped with avalve to control the water supply. The area aroundthe trough should be protected from erosion usingeither concrete or geotextile filter fabric andcrushed stone. A pasture pump may be needed ifwater cannot be supplied by gravity. This devicerequires no electricity. The power is provided bythe livestock’s pushing a diaphragm with their muz-zles to pump the water.

Figure 10. Livestock watering with limited access to wateringramp

Figure 11. Livestock watering with no access to pond (not toscale)

Floatingwater intake

Flexible hose

Supply linethrough dam

Fence

Valve Trough

Pond ConstructionPermit Requirements

The owner must obtain any required permitsbefore hiring a contractor. If wetlands are involved,a permit may be required from the Corps ofEngineers (see Wetland Restrictions). Pond sitesthat involve a total of 5 or more acres of land dis-turbance during construction require a NationalPollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)permit issued from the Alabama Department ofEnvironmental Management. This permit requiresthat a Best Management Practices (BMP) plan bedeveloped and implemented to control erosionduring construction and also requires that the BMPsbe monitored to ensure that they are workingproperly. Even if the site is smaller than 5 acres,the landowner and contractor should make a con-scious effort to control erosion during construction.A simple way to do this is to perform no construc-tion activities in the pool area until after the dam is

Pond Building 9

and define the method of measurement and theunit of payment for the various items of work thatconstitute the whole job.

Construction work of the quality and standardsdesired will not result unless there is a clear under-standing of all the requirements for the job be-tween the owner and the contractor. For these rea-sons, good plans and specifications should beprepared for all ponds for which an owner awardsa contract.

The local Soil and Water Conservation District,the NRCS, and private consultants (professional en-gineers) can assist in preparing the plans and speci-fications. These people can also provide assistanceduring the construction phase; however, the prima-ry responsibility to ensure that the job is constructedaccording to plans and specifications is the owner’s.

Construction CostsThe cost of constructing a pond can be highly

variable. On a per-acre basis, small ponds are gen-erally more expensive than larger ponds. Smallponds can easily range from $10,000 to $20,000 peracre or more, while larger ponds (10 acres or more)can range from $1,000 to $5,000 per acre or possi-bly even less for ideal sites. The largest single factorcontrolling the cost of constructing a pond is theamount of earthmoving required. Other costs suchas clearing, site preparation, pipe, concrete, andseeding and mulching are often only incidentalcompared to the earthmoving cost.

The best way to contract the work of buildingthe pond is to have individual unit prices and pre-agreed-upon costs for every item to be completedin the construction of the pond. Some pond own-ers elect to “lump sum” the job. That is, the con-tractor gives them one price for the entire complet-ed job. This is fine unless changes in constructionare required, in which case, modifications to thework are difficult to price. Some contractors maywant to do all or portions of the work on an hourlybasis. This could prove to be expensive since thepond owner has no control over the time requiredto do the work.

The cost of installing a pond can sometimes becost-shared through government programs if thepond actually reduces downstream water pollutionor is used as a source of water for livestock. Checkwith the local Soil and Water Conservation DistrictOffice and the NRCS for potential cost-share money.

Tip to Remember

Construction work of the quality and standards desired will

not result unless there is a clear understanding of all the

requirements for the job between the owner and

the contractor.

near completion. This minimizes land disturbanceand creates a basin to trap the sediment producedin the pool area. In all cases, vegetation should beestablished to control erosion as soon as possibleafter construction.

Site Surveys and LayoutCertain information for the potential pond site

must be obtained through engineering surveys. At aminimum, information collected should includesurveys for the proposed earthen dam location,emergency spillway location, and shoreline for thepond. Any soils investigation should be document-ed and referenced to the site survey. The informa-tion gathered from the field surveys will then beused by the designer to calculate the elevations andearthfill quantities associated with the constructionof the dam. Just prior to construction, the site sur-vey and design information is used to precisely layout the earthen dam and emergency spillway forconstruction.

Hiring a ContractorUnless you have the necessary equipment, you

will need to hire a contractor to build the pond. Alist of pond contractors can be obtained at yourlocal NRCS office. You may wish to receive bidsfrom several contractors to be sure you are gettingthe best quality job done at the lowest possiblecost. It is always best to talk with others who havehad ponds built. Ask for references from yourprospective contractor before finally contractingyour construction project.

Before contracting, have a set of plans andspecifications prepared. The plans should show allelevations and dimensions of the dam and emer-gency spillway, the dimensions and extent of thecutoff trench and other areas requiring backfill, andthe location, dimensions, and elevations of the prin-cipal spillway, bank contours, and other plannedstructures. The plan should also include a list of thequantity and kind of building materials required.

The specifications should give all the informa-tion not shown on the plans that is necessary todefine what is to be done, prescribe how the workis to be done if such direction is required, specifythe quality of material and workmanship required,


Construction EquipmentThe contractor will need adequate equipment

to construct the pond. A list of available equipmentmay include a bulldozer, self-loading scraper, back-hoe, farm tractor and implements, sheepsfoot ortamping roller, and manually directed power tam-pers. Welding equipment will be needed for steelprincipal spillway systems.

Site PreparationThe contractor must prepare the surface of the

soil on which the earthen dam will be constructed,the emergency spillway location, and any borrowlocations before beginning the earthmoving opera-tions. Site preparation involves clearing trees fromthe area, removing stumps and roots, and removingany type of organic material. This may even in-clude the removal of some organic soil if present.Trees, stumps, and roots should never be buried ata location that will eventually be underneath theearthen dam. Most contractors can burn the clearedmaterial and bury the unburned remains at a loca-tion that will not affect the dam. The pool area ofthe pond should also be cleared. If structure forfishing is planned for the pond, some stumps canbe left. Any debris that could easily float should beremoved because floating debris can clog the prin-cipal spillway pipe system and threaten the safetyof the dam.

Cutoff Trench and Dam CorePotential seepage underneath a dam must be

prevented to avoid excessive water loss and possi-ble failure of the dam. To prevent excessive seep-age, a cutoff trench should be excavated at least 12inches into impervious material beneath the dam(see Figures 6, 12, 13). The trench is generally excavated along the centerline of the dam and extends up each abutment of the dam as far as

there is any pervious material that might allowseepage. The bottom of the trench should be noless than 8 feet wide and the sides no steeper than1:1. The old channel underneath the dam shouldalso be cleaned out using the same procedures asthose for excavating the cutoff.

Trench excavation can be hazardous work.Cave-ins can occur if the walls of the trench are notsloped. Often, the depths shown on the plans forthe cutoff trench are only approximate; therefore,an on-site inspection should be made before thetrench is backfilled. If there is a cutoff trench nearany existing or former stream bed or waterway, thetrench must be deeper and wider so that all stones,gravel, sand, sediment, stumps, roots, organic mat-ter, and any other objectionable material that couldinterfere with proper bonding of the earthfill andfoundation can be removed.

Before backfilling operations are attempted,pump any accumulated water from the cutofftrench. The trench should be damp (not wet) andlightly scarified before the first layer of fill materialis placed in the core. The core of the dam is the in-terior portion of the dam from the bottom of thecutoff trench to the top of the dam and is compact-ed with the best available clayey material.

Soil Moisture/CompactionThe two main elements of good compaction

are compactive effort and soil moisture. The dammust be built gradually in thin layers (6 to 8 inch-es), and heavy equipment and/or sheepsfoot rollersshould be used to ensure that the soil receives ade-quate compactive effort (Figure 14). The moisturecontent of the soil must be monitored. Soil that iseither too dry or too wet will not properly com-pact, regardless of the compactive effort.

During the construction process, the damshould be slightly overbuilt (about 5 percent) toallow for settlement, which will occur over time.

Figure 12. Initial clearing for base of pond dam and cutoff trench

Figure 13. Excavation of cutoff trench below base of pond dam

Pond Building 11

The dam should also have at least 3 (horizontal) to1 (vertical) side slopes that are easy to maintainand a top width of 12 to 16 feet if the top of thedam is to be used for a farm road.

Principal SpillwayGood compaction of the earthfill around the

barrel pipe is extremely important. The fill shouldbe compacted using manually directed power tam-pers to ensure good compaction against the pipeand antiseep collars. Manual compaction shouldcontinue around the barrel pipe until at least 2 feetof material is over the pipe. Extreme care shouldbe taken with the compaction around the barrelpipe since this area is often the weakest portion ofthe earthfill and where the majority of dams fail.

If the pond site has continuously flowing waterdue to an excessively large watershed or spring, adiversion ditch may be needed to divert the wateraway from the installation of the barrel pipe. Oncethe earthfill is 2 or more feet over the barrel pipe,the stream can flow through the pipe to completeconstruction of the dam.

A valve is often attached to the end of the bar-rel pipe in the pond to allow the pond to be occa-sionally drained for maintenance purposes. A stemis attached to the valve to allow operation fromabove the water surface (see Figure 6).

Emergency SpillwayThe emergency spillway for the pond is con-

structed on one end of the dam in undisturbed soil,is transversely level to prevent meandering ofwater, and should be established and maintainedwith a good stand of grass. The flow through theemergency spillway should be shallow, slow, anduniform to minimize the possibility of the spillwayeroding and causing failure of the dam. Likewise,the natural ground where the emergency spillway

empties should not erode and thereby cause dam-age to the spillway. The spillway must also conveythe water safely to the valley below the dam with-out damaging the downstream slope of the dam(see Figure 2).

Establishing VegetationThe final step in good pond construction, and

one of the most important, is to establish good veg-etative cover over all exposed areas around thepond (Figure 15). Too often, pond owners forgetthis critical step and quickly discover that the ponddam and banks are suffering from severe erosionand siltation. Ideally, topsoil should be set asideduring the initial site preparation for construction.Following construction, the stockpiled topsoilshould be spread, limed (if needed), and fertilized.

Figure 14. Using sheepsfoot roller to compact earthfill

Figure 15. Seed new pond embankments to establish vegetativecover and reduce erosion.

The prepared soil can then be seeded, sprigged, orsodded with the appropriate grasses. Depending onthe season following construction, a cool-seasongroundcover can be planted in the fall, followed byoverseeding in the spring with a warm-seasongrass. Check with your county Extension office forbest grass types and planting dates for your area.


Pond MaintenanceDam and Spillway Maintenance

Once a pond is completed, the dam and spill-ways require some maintenance. Vegetation on thedam must be mowed and occasionally fertilized.Trees should not be allowed to grow on the damor in the emergency spillway. Any erosion or scourin the emergency spillway should be immediatelyrepaired and revegetated. The trash rack shouldhave debris removed from it periodically.

Controlling Vegetation on Pond Banks and Dams

Pond bank vegetation should not be allowed togrow uncontrolled. Vegetation such as cattails, wil-lows, reeds, and sedges are acceptable in limitedareas and amounts if desired, but excessive shore-line vegetation will limit access to pond banks andhinder fishing, swimming, and other activities. Thickvegetation on banks also provides habitat formuskrats and beavers, which can cause severe dam-age to ponds (see Muskrat and Beaver Control).

Woody vegetation should not be allowed togrow on dams. Tree roots can eventually penetratethe core of the dam and cause excessive pondseepage. Trees that have been allowed to grow onolder ponds should be cut down if they are lessthan 6 inches in diameter. There is some questionas to whether or not larger-diameter trees shouldbe cut. One school of thought says to cut all treeson dams, while another recommends leaving thelarger trees (over 6 inches in diameter) because ifcut, the deteriorating roots of the bigger trees mayleave large voids in the dam. Regardless, don’t lettrees grow on a new pond dam, and remove anysmaller trees found on older pond dams.

Limiting Livestock AccessCattle are detrimental to ponds and should not

have uncontrolled access to the pond. Uncontrolledlivestock access will cause damage to dams andbanks and substantially shorten the life of a pond.Cattle damage ponds by trampling edges, exposingsoil of pond banks through overgrazing, and muddy-ing the pond through wading (Figure 16). The physi-cal trampling of pond edges and erosion from over-grazing will cause premature siltation and shallowingof the edges. Shallowing of pond edges promotesaquatic weed growth. Cattle wading in the pondcauses excessive muddiness, which lowers pond pro-ductivity and can lead to conditions of low dissolvedoxygen and a resulting fish kill. An excessive quanti-ty of manure in the pond can result in excess fertilityand possible fish kills due to low dissolved oxygen.

Ponds can serve the purpose of stock wateringwithout allowing direct animal access to the pond. Awatering line can be installed through the dam duringconstruction to provide water to a trough below thedam. Gravity-flow waterlines can also be installed overthe dam of existing ponds (See Livestock WateringAccess). For information on installing livestock water-ing devices, contact your local NRCS office.

Muskrat and Beaver ControlMuskrats and beavers are burrowing animals

that cause extensive damage to pond structures.Their burrowing activities damage ponds by weak-ening and eventually caving in pond banks anddams. Keeping pond banks neatly mowed andtrimmed will help discourage muskrats and beaversby removing desirable habitat. However, manyponds have chronic problems with these animals.Trapping or shooting (where safe) are the usualmeans of removing muskrats and beavers. Muskratscan be trapped during the season or at other timesby special permission from a local ConservationOfficer of the Alabama Department of Conservationand Natural Resources. There is no closed seasonon beaver in Alabama.

Aquatic Weed ControlA popular misconception is that fish need vege-

tation in ponds in order to thrive. In reality, aquaticvegetation is neither necessary nor desirable inmost ponds for maintaining a healthy fish popula-tion. Aquatic vegetation can interfere with fishing,decrease the quality and quantity of the fish, andmake ponds unattractive. Once aquatic vegetationincreases in coverage to become a nuisance, it canbe considered a weed, which is a plant growingwhere it is not wanted.

Figure 16. Cattle should not be allowed unrestricted access toponds.

Pond Building 13

Proper pond design and construction is the firstand most important step in preventing aquaticweed problems. Shallow water areas are more like-ly to develop aquatic weed infestations. Pondedges should slope off quickly (2:1 to 3:1) for thefirst 21⁄2 feet or more of depth. Ponds should bedesigned and constructed so that there are no sig-nificant shallow areas less than 21⁄2 feet deep.

An excellent biological control agent for manycommon pond weeds is the grass carp. The grasscarp, also called the white amur, is a herbivorousfish that does an excellent job preventing or con-trolling many submersed aquatic weeds. Stockingthree to five grass carp per acre in a new pond willhelp prevent the establishment of many types ofundesirable aquatic plants. In ponds with existingweed problems, up to 20 grass carp per acre canbe stocked with no adverse effects on the otherfish in the pond. Grass carp are legal to use inAlabama. Pond owners outside Alabama shouldcontact their state fisheries agency regarding grasscarp stocking regulations. For more information ongrass carp, see Extension Circular ANR-452, “UsingGrass Carp for Controlling Weeds in AlabamaPonds.”

Deepening Pond EdgesPonds constructed with inadequate shoreline

depth or that have suffered from pond bank ero-sion will have shallow edges that hinder fishingand promote undesirable growth of submersed andshoreline vegetation. Ideally, pond edges should bedeepened during the initial construction phase.However, it is possible to correct existing pondswith shallow edges by lowering the pond level inmid-September (after fish spawning) and allowingthe edges to dry enough to permit machinery intothe pond area. Three methods of pond edge deep-ening are illustrated in Figures 17, 18, 19, and 20.

Leaky PondsExcessive seepage is a common pond problem

in many areas. Most severe seepage problems canbe traced back to two fundamental causes: a poorsite and/or improper pond construction practices. Apoor site may be one in which either the soils aretoo permeable to hold water and/or the underlyinggeology is not conducive to holding water. Riskygeological structure includes underlying cavernouslimestone prone to develop sinkholes or exposedrock areas in the pond bottom around which water

Figure 17. Method 1: Digging edges deeper and placing soil onoutside edge of pond (not to scale)

Figure 18. Method 2: Digging edges deeper and placing soil indeeper portions of pond (not to scale)

Figure 19. Method 3: Digging edges deeper and using soil to makeearthen fishing piers (not to scale)

Original ground

Excavated groundlineWaterline

3:1 slopebelow waterline for safety

Place excavated ma-terial above water-line, and slope todrain.

2 to 3feet

3:1 slope below wa-terline for safety

Original ground

Excavated ground-line

Place excavated material indeeper portion of pond.

Waterline

2 to 3feet

Place excavated material in shal-low portion of pond to createan earthen pier.

Original1’ min.3

3:1 slopebelow waterline forsafety

2 to 3feet

WaterlineExcavated groundline

Figure 20. Method 3: Plan view of pond with earthen piers (not toscale)

Earthen piers constructed ofmaterial excavated from shallow portion of pond

A

Damtopwidth

Outletpipe

Waterline

Riser

1

A


might channel beneath the pond. Seepage rates canvary considerably for ponds, depending on thedominant soil type. However, properly constructedponds on good sites will have low seepage rates.Table 1 lists relative seepage rates plus averagesummertime evaporation in Alabama to show po-tential water level drop (assuming no added waterfrom rainfall, runoff, groundwater, or other sources).

CompactionSealing by compaction is one of the least ex-

pensive sealing methods. This method can work onpond sites containing soils of a wide range of parti-cle sizes and some clay (at least 10 percent) and siltto make a seal. The procedure involves clearing thepond area of all trees and stumps and filling anyremaining holes with good-quality clayey soil. Thetop 8 to 10 inches of soil should be disked andthen all rocks and tree roots removed. The soil isthen compacted under proper moisture conditionswith four to six passes of a sheepsfoot roller (seeFigure 14). The compacted layer should be no lessthan 8 inches thick for water depths of 10 feet orless. In areas where the water will exceed 10 feetin depth, compact two or more layers, not exceed-ing a thickness of 8 inches per layer.

Clay BlanketsIf the clay content of the soil in the pond area

is not sufficient to make a good seal, laying down aclay blanket may be an option worth considering.Ideally, good-quality material containing at least 20percent clay should be obtained from a borrowarea near the pond site to minimize hauling costs.

Preparing the pond area for a clay blanket isthe same as preparing the area for the compactionmethod. The material should be spread in layers 6to 8 inches thick and compacted as described pre-viously. A blanket thickness of 12 inches is suffi-cient for water up to 10 feet deep. Add 2 inches ofthickness for each foot of water over 10 feet. Clayblankets should be protected from cracking due todrying or freezing and thawing. Protection can beprovided by spreading a 12- to 18-inch cover ofgravel between the anticipated high and low waterlevels of the pond. The quantity of soil needed toform a clay blanket can be substantial. A 1-foot-thick blanket spread over 1 acre requires over1,600 cubic yards of clay.

BentoniteBentonite, available in either powdered or

granular form, is a fine-grained clay that absorbswater and swells from 8 to 20 times its original vol-ume. Before spreading bentonite, prepare the pondarea in the same manner as for the compactionmethod. When used as a pond sealer in a drypond, bentonite is mixed into the top 6 inches ofsoil and then compacted and saturated. When satu-rated, the bentonite particles expand to fill thepores between the soil particles. Soil moisture inthe treatment area should be near optimum forgood compaction. If the area is too wet, postpone

Table 1. Seepage Rates Showing Potential Water LevelDrop

SUMMERTIME POND LEVEL DROP(inches per week)

Seepage + Evapo- = Pond WaterRate ration* Level Drop**

Low <1.4 + 1.0 = <2.4Medium 1.4 to 2.75 + 1.0 = 2.4 to 3.75High >2.75 + 1.0 = >3.75*Evaporation averages about 1 inch per week (June–September).**Assuming no water entering pond

Ponds that leak excessively can be difficult andexpensive to fix after the pond is constructed.However, because of water needs, ignorance, orother reasons, ponds are often built on marginalsites and under less-than-ideal conditions. Whenexcessive seepage occurs, there are several meth-ods available for attempting to reduce seepage to atolerable level.

Improper pond construction techniques areoften the cause of excessive seepage. As discussedpreviously under Pond Construction, most em-bankment ponds require a cutoff and core trenchcompacted with a good-quality clayey materialalong the centerline of the dam and extendingdown into impervious material. Failure to properlyinstall the core trench can result in excessive seep-age through the base of the dam. This problem cansometimes be corrected through draining the pondand installing a new core trench in front of the dam.

Proper soil moisture is very important for ob-taining optimum compaction during the construc-tion phase. Ponds constructed with soil either toodry or too wet can result in excess seepage due topoor compaction. Generally, the soil is too dry if itcan’t be molded in your hand and too wet if it ad-heres to the construction equipment or is obviouslysaturated. There are several methods and materialsthat can be used to seal leaking ponds, includingcompaction, clay blankets, bentonite, chemical dis-persing agents, and pond liners.

Pond Building 15

treatment until conditions improve. If the area istoo dry, sprinkle water over the area to moisten it.

Bentonite can be also added to the pond waterover the suspected area of the leak, but it is not aseffective when applied in this manner. The granularform is more effective than the powder becausewhen sprinkled on the pond surface, the granulestend to sink to the bottom before becoming saturat-ed with water.

Application rates for bentonite range from 1 to 3pounds per square foot, depending on the soil type.Bentonite will shrink and crack when dry and is notrecommended for ponds in which the water levelfluctuates widely through draining or excessiveevaporation. Before filling the pond with water,protect treated pond areas from drying by mulchingwith hay during the final compaction stage.

Bentonite can be expensive to use and, as withany pond-sealing method, there are no guaranteesthat it will stop the leak. With most ponds, whole-pond treatments are not practical. Treatment effortsshould be concentrated around the suspected prob-lem areas. Even the minimum recommended treat-ment rate of 1 pound per square foot would re-quire over 20 tons of bentonite at a cost of over$3,500 per treated acre.

Chemical Dispersing AgentsSome fine-grained clay soils will seep exces-

sively because the clay particles are arranged in anopen honeycomb structure. Certain chemicals,known as dispersing agents, can have the effect ofrearranging the clay particles, causing the openstructure to collapse. Treatments with dispersingagents are effective only in soils containing morethan 50 percent of fine-grained material (silt andclay finer than 0.074 millimeter in diameter) and atleast 15 percent of clay finer than 0.002 millimeterin diameter. Chemical treatment is not effective incoarse-grained soils.

The most commonly used dispersing agents arethe sodium polyphosphates, including tetrasodiumpyrophosphate (TSPP) and sodium tripolyphosphate(STPP). The dispersants should be finely ground par-ticles. Application rates range from 0.05 to 0.10pound per square foot. Sodium chloride, which isless effective, is applied at a rate of 0.20 to 0.33pound per square foot. Soda ash is another chemicalthat is sometimes used as a dispersing agent at 0.10to 0.20 pound per square foot. A laboratory analysisis recommended to determine the most effectivetype and rate of dispersing agent to use.

Pond LinersThe use of flexible membranes such as high-

density polyethylene, vinyl, or butyl rubber is aneffective but costly way to reduce excessive seep-age losses in recreational ponds. Pond liners suchas those used in landfills, lagoon ponds, and otherindustrial applications are generally impractical forall but the smallest of ponds or ornamental poolsdue to the cost of the liner material and installation.

EnhancementsThere are a number of things pond owners can

do to enhance the usefulness and productivity oftheir ponds, particularly for fishing and to attractwildlife.

Fish AttractorsFish attractors help anglers locate and catch

fish. These structures attract fish by providing themcover and serving as habitat for aquatic insects andforage fish upon which the sportfish feed. Commontypes of fish attractors include evergreen treetopsweighted or anchored to the bottom, piles of rocksor cinder blocks, and tied and weighted reefs ofdiscarded tires. The attractors should be placed atrelatively shallow depths of 2 to 6 feet where oxy-gen levels are adequate.

In newly constructed ponds, windrows of treescleared from the site can be positioned as fish at-tractors. In ponds fished by boat, fish attractorsshould be submerged enough so that they don’tinterfere with boat movement.

The number of fish attractors should not be toonumerous because too many will defeat the pur-pose of trying to concentrate fish where anglerscan more easily find them. One to three fish attrac-tors per acre are sufficient. Contrary to popularopinion, the addition of structure to a pond will notincrease the number of fish in the pond. Fish donot need cover or structure to thrive. The additionof structure simply attracts fish, which enables theangler to fish at a particular spot in the pond wherefish concentration is likely to be highest.

Figure 21. Fertilizer platform

Chris Hyde, Extension Aquaculturist, Department of Fisheries and AlliedAquacultures, Auburn University, and Perry Oakes, State Conservation Engineer,USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Alabama

For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county’s name to find the number.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and otherrelated acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&MUniversity and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without re-gard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. UPS, 15M24, New Aug 1998, ANR-1114ANR-1114

Fertilizer PlatformPonds managed for bass and bluegill fishing are

often fertilized to increase fish production (seeExtension Circulars ANR-249, “Fertilizing FishPonds,” and ANR-577, “Management of Recrea-tional Fish Ponds in Alabama”). If a granular formof fertilizer is used, the fertilizer should be sus-pended away from the pond bottom in 12 to 18inches of water. One method of suspending the fer-tilizer is the use of a fertilizer platform (Figure 21).Locate the platform in the upper end of the pondin an area that receives good wind and wave ac-tion. The platform should be sized to provide 3 to4 square feet of area for each surface acre of water.One adequately sized platform is sufficient for upto 25 surface acres of water.

Fish Spawning BedsFishing for bluegill (bream) during the

spring/summer spawn is a favorite activity of manyanglers. Shoreline areas can be enhanced to en-courage the bluegill to spawn in a particular loca-tion where anglers can easily locate them andwhere fishing access is best. Small gravel (pea grav-el) is a preferred substrate for bluegill spawningbeds and can be spread in an area of the pond

where anglers would like to fish. Spread the peagravel in a 4- to 6-inch layer in 2 to 6 feet of water.The gravel can be contained within a woodenframe if the area is particularly silty.

WildlifePonds naturally attract wildlife and can be man-

aged to encourage visits from particular types ofanimals. Nesting boxes for wood ducks can beplaced over the pond. Shoreline vegetation such ascattails, rushes, and smartweeds attract many typesof wildlife such as water birds, shore birds, songbirds, rabbits, turtles, frogs, and snakes. Shorelinevegetation, though potentially undesirable in exces-sive amounts, can be allowed to grow in limitedareas as long as the pond owner is willing to con-trol its coverage. If shoreline vegetation is allowedto grow, the tradeoff is that excessive pond bankvegetation limits fishing access and may attract po-tential nuisance wildlife such as muskrats andbeaver. When making decisions regarding shorelinevegetation management, pond owners can use theirbest judgment and manage pond bank areas ac-cording to their priorities of fishing access, wildlifeattraction, and personal aesthetics.

To bank

Water level

Pond bottom

2" x 12"

Adjustment poles

Fertilization platform12" to 18" below normalwater level

Adjustment holes for fluctuating water levels

2" x 12" or 2" x 10" boardsLeave 1/4" to 1/2" for expansion.


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