Pond Boss Magazine: Searching for the Perfect Pond

Ask that question to a multitude of people and you’ll get that many answers. That’s a lot of different answers from a lot of different folks, I figure.

But when we dig a little deeper into that topic, everyone wants water in their pond. What makes a pond do what it needs to do is the correct ingredients, whatever they are.

The process starts with site selection. I’ve seen them all, at least I think I have. But sometimes I still get surprised with a curve ball pond site.

I’ve seen bodies of water that had unbelievable watersheds along with all kinds of natural flowing water, too. Then I’ve seen the complete opposite. No flowing water and a pitiful watershed.

I recall a guy that lived close to my folk’s house. He called one day saying he wanted to build a pond. We were kind of scratching our proverbial heads. We knew the place very well. My dad dug the basement for the house. We graded the yard, built his house pad, driveway…all of that sort of stuff.

We were thinking maybe he acquired some of the land around him. I headed over to learn more. Keep in my mind, the property is a hillside which is good for a basement-style house.

There are gullies that come off the hill to carry excess rainwater downstream. While it’s mostly a wooded property, with lots of slope, it’s not really a good set up in the pond world.

Sure, enough he took me to a ditch right by his house, between 50 to 100 feet away. I quickly had to break the news to him that this wasn’t a very good spot for a pond. In order to get any size pond out of the area you would have to build a rather tall dam, due to the elevation shift or drop. He just didn’t have the space due to the fact his house was sitting so close.

His head began to scratch as well. He had one thing down in his mind. When it was raining, water was racing down that hill. He was thinking all that water and he should figure out how to capture it.

But it just wasn’t the place for a pond. If he wanted mosquitoes, tadpoles, frogs and snakes this might be a good spot. That pond-dream died that day… as far as that site was concerned. A lot of times I have to be the bearer of bad news, but I had rather be straight up than misleading.

I encounter people that buy property simply because they want water. Some do a great deal of homework—as they should. Others buy first, then they want to talk pond and end up like our neighbor. I’ve told lots of folks I would be glad to help them before they invest in a property.

A lot can be learned from a computer screen these days, starting with maps. But typically, I like to start with a site visit. I like to get a visual feel for the land. Visualizing the site helps a lot when I do get back to the computer and look down from above on aerial photos and topo maps.

As I pull into a driveway of a place, I’m already thinking and observing. I’m scanning the terrain. I’m looking at what kind of trees are there. Trees can tell a lot about what’s underneath your feet when you step out of the truck. If you see Bois d’Arc, cedar, and hackberry trees around this area, you can bet rock dust will fly for sure.

I like to meet the folks and get an idea of what they have on their minds as well. A lot of places have multiple sites that would make great ponds, but might not really work out for the owner’s master plan.

With a site visit I feel I’m more equipped to do my homework for them.

Regardless how well I know an area, I still like to have a look at soil maps, too. I think it’s a great tool and helps point you in an educated direction. The absolutely best thing to be done is to go out and dig some test holes. Get your hands in the material, hopefully your hands will get a really nice reddish, orange color from some great clay content.

But keep in mind, clay comes in a variety of colors, like greyish and light yellow, too.

The watershed which feeds any pond site needs to be known, for many reasons. A 10/1 ratio is a good baseline here, and a good part of our nation east of the Rocky Mountains. That means 10 surface acres running off into a one surface acre pond. Also, watershed gives you a good idea on spillway size. I really like to overbuild a spillway. In my opinion, and experience, the bigger the better definitely can’t hurt.

Then, there is the whole permit issue, which it is better to have your i’s dotted and t’s crossed than not. In the state of Tennessee if you disturb more than an acre of ground you need a grading permit. If you plan on getting into waters of the state, you’re going to need an more permits such as ARAP or aquatic resource alteration permit or 401 water quality certifications. In some counties you have to grading permits if you disturb more than 10,000 square feet. When it comes to permits, I always turn it over to engineers to do their job and talk the talk to the powers that be.

Your state may be considerably different than Tennessee. Jump your hoops early, to find out what permits you might need, if you need any at all.

I don’t mind having to have permits. What I mind is the process. I’ve seen projects that I thought would have trouble getting a permit that sailed right through. I’m very glad when they do. Then others go on for years and the state simply doesn’t want to grant a permit for that project.

Seems like the process gets dragged out in hopes to discourage people that are trying to do the right thing. I don’t get it. Trust me, I’m all in for being a good steward to the land and our surroundings. I’m not out to destroy the environment or anything like that. I’m looking to build beautiful bodies of water.

But I believe if someone buys a piece of property, they have the God given right to build a lake or pond. As long as they’re not causing a problem for their neighbor, such as filling their property with runoff mud or something to that effect. Every water hole I’ve ever been involved in it seems like overnight life happens in it. Bugs seem to come from nowhere and are swimming around in it. Wildlife always finds a new water source—when the water appears, they appear. I think it’s simply amazing and I don’t understand why something so simple and beautiful has to be so difficult at times. I think, in the times we live, the more water the better. Of course, this is my opinion, which I know is shared by many more as well.

Not meant to have gotten on a rant, but I could definitely continue with it.

When you’re on the mission in hopes of having that body of water, look around the area and study your surroundings. Check it out in the pouring raining or even an hour after, poke around in the ground and study how the water flows.

All the things I’ve mentioned above should be rolling around in your head. Don’t be left scratching your head, but if you have the pond itch you might have to scratch it by learning some things you don’t yet know.

That’s part of the fun.