Farm Pond Management-Planning and Construction

 

Planning and proper construction are two of the most important parts in the process of creating a good farm pond.  The first step in any construction project is detailed planning.  There are many decisions a pond owner will need to make during the planning phase.  The determination of the uses of the pond which may include domestic water supply, irrigation, fire protection, terrestrial wildlife habitat, livestock watering, recreation, and fish production will be very important considerations into the construction and location of the farm pond.

​

Another important planning consideration is the type of pond to be constructed. Generally, farm ponds are grouped into four types: dugout or excavated ponds, surface or watershed ponds, spring or creek fed ponds, and off-stream storage ponds. Dugout ponds are excavated onsite and the soil obtained by excavation is used to form an embankment around the pond. The pond could be fed by surface runoff or groundwater from available aquifers. If dugout ponds are going to be used for irrigation purposes, water will have to pumped out of the pond. Surface ponds are the most common type of pond and are partially excavated where an embankment is constructed to retain water. Surface ponds are generally constructed at sites where a land depression already exists and is fed by surface runoff from it’s surrounding catchment area. Spring or creek fed ponds are those that the primary source of water supply is a creek or spring. Off-stream storage ponds are constructed by streams that have seasonal flows. Another type of farm pond is referred to as levee ponds and this type of pond is primarily used for aquaculture. Levee ponds are formed by embankments that are usually rectangular shaped, uniform depth, and are filled with water from wells, streams, or estuaries..

Legal Considerations and Technical Advice

 

Experienced local contractors with pond building experience should be contacted during the early planning stage for advice and suggestions on pond construction.

 

A new pond owner should contact their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) representative for technical expertise into the construction of a farm pond.  Pond owners in the western section of Kentucky can find their representative here and eastern pond owners can find their contact by going to this link. The local NRCS agent can meet on site with the landowner and contractor to discuss watershed drainage area, pond capacity, runoff rates, spillway requirements, soil evaluation, dam construction, bottom drain standpipe, trickle tubes, and other engineering aspects. Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet: Department for Environmental Protection (DEP) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) should be contacted concerning possible permits which may be required for the construction of the pond.  Finally, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife provides technical guidance for fish stocking and fish and wildlife habitat considerations.

 

 

Chapter 151 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes and related regulations require approval by the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet prior to the construction or reconstruction of any dam, embankment, levee, dike bridge, fill or other obstructions in the floodplain of any stream in the Commonwealth.  In order to comply with this statue, anyone who proposes such an activity must submit to this cabinet an application and one (1) set of such plans, drawings, and specifications as are necessary for the determination of the proposed project’s compliance with state laws and regulations and of the effects of the project on the floodway and the flooding of the stream.

 

A dam is defined as any impounding structure that is at least 25 feet in height, measured from the downstream toe to the crest, or has a maximum impounding capacity of 50 acre-feet of water at the top of the structure.  Structures that fail to meet these criteria but have the potential to cause significant property damage or pose a threat to life in the downstream area are regulated in the same manner as dams.  All such structures except federal dams and those permitted by the Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement (DMRE) must be reviewed, and a stream construction permit must be issued by the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet.

 

 

The actual location of a farm pond will be the most important decision made by a farm pond owner. Careful consideration should be made based on soils, geology, and the potential dangers or benefits from adjacent surrounding lands.  The location of the pond should maximize the water supply to it. Possible inflow of materials which may cause poor water quality or fish kills should be determined. Livestock wastes, ensilage, sewage, or other by-products may lead to oxygen depletion or contamination.

 

Suitable soil is one of the primary factors in selecting a pond site.  The NRCS staff can assist you in site selection, soil suitability and design of your new farm pond.  The Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (SRAC) has a paper titled Site Selection of Levee-Type Fish Production Ponds that gives useful information about the best soil types for ponds.  The soil type should contain a layer of material that water will not seep through.  A good pond site will have a sufficient depth of clay in the soil for the construction of the levee, core of the dam, and excavated basin of the pond.  NRCS Agriculture handbook Number 590: Ponds-Planning, Design, Construction provides a detailed guide to building a pond.

 ​

 

An important feature of any well designed and constructed pond is the capability to control water levels.  A bottom drain standpipe installed with anti-seep collars during the construction phase of the dam will maintain water quality and be beneficial in managing fish populations.  The standpipe allows the water to be maintained at a constant level, with overflow water coming from the lower un-oxygenated layer.  Decreased water levels, or drawdowns, in the fall are a management tool that allows control of an overpopulation of bluegill by the bass population.  Control valves are necessary for complete drainage of the pond, for total catfish harvest, or to dredge the pond if excessive siltation occurs.  Drain pipes can also be installed which will provide water to livestock tanks below the dam.  The NRCS will be able to provide more information on these structures.

 

 

 

 

The size of a pond to be constructed will depend on the amount of water runoff in the watershed.  Normally, 10-15 acres of surface drainage are required to fill and maintain a one acre pond.  Excessive watershed runoff into the pond can increase siltation and turbidity, reduce fish production, and cause dam failure.  Plans for excavation of the pond basin should include shoreline depths of at least two to three feet to retard aquatic weed growth and improve angling.  The most suitable (but less fertile) watershed cover is woodlands, followed by grasslands and pasture.  The least suitable are row crops which can increase fertility but produce siltation.  All ponds should have grass buffer zones leading into them to retard quick runoff and decrease the silt load.  Special attention should be given to agriculture practices on adjacent lands and to the use of pesticides and herbicides.  Nearby ponds that tend to overflow that contain undesirable fish species should also be considered.  To maintain a quality fishery, pond owners should construct ponds of at least one acre, but two acres or larger are preferred.  Ponds of less than one surface acre are more difficult to manage for a balanced fish population, but still can provide some fishing opportunities if managed correctly.

 

The depth of the pond is important.  Fish production is not better in deeper ponds as they tend to have more oxygen problems.  Farm ponds in Kentucky during summer months will stratify, which means that fish cannot use the lower layer of water due to the lack of oxygen.  For fishery management purposes it is recommended a pond have a minimum average depth of 6 feet and a maximum depth of 12-15 feet.  It is best if construction funds are directed toward maximum surface acreage rather than excessive depth construction.  Additionally, ponds should not have extensive shallow water areas (less than 3 feet deep) due to the potential for excessive aquatic plant growth.

 

Most noxious weed growth starts in the shallow (less than 3 feet deep) areas of the ponds.  If the area of the pond where light can penetrate to the bottom is reduced, rooted plants have less chance to become established.  Pond shorelines should have a slope of about 3:1 (3 feet out toward the center of the pond for every 1 foot drop toward the pond bottom).  A slope greater than 3:1 or 4:1 would be too gradual and would create excessive shallow areas, while slopes less​ than 3:1 would be too steep and create the potential for erosion or sloughing-off.  Check this page from the Alabama Cooperative Extension site for more information about pond size, depth, and contouring.

 

 

 

 

If livestock are granted direct access to a pond, they may be the source of severe water quality degradation. Problems caused by excessive livestock use of farm ponds include accelerated bank erosion, water sedimentation, and nutrient enrichment resulting in increased water turbidity and rapid growth of algae. Limiting or eliminating access to livestock can reduce these problems.

When eliminating livestock access, a fence should extend a minimum of 60 feet from the pond bank and completely enclose the pond, the grass buffer zone, and dam area.  Wildlife habitat development within the fenced buffer area around the pond can be unlimited.  The planting of grass and legume mixtures along with shrubs, hedges, and evergreens can enhance wildlife habitat.  However, the shoreline, dam, and spillway areas should be mowed on a regular basis.  It is especially important to keep the dam free of trees.  Trees growing in the dam can cause leaks and may attract burrowing rodents which can further damage the dam.  Mowing the dam may also allow you to notice any leaks, if they develop.  Annual mowing of the adjacent wildlife areas should be delayed until late August following small game nesting.

Spawning beds and fish attractors

 

Both spawning beds and fish attractors can be installed during the construction of a pond.  Adding these structures prior to filling the pond with water makes placement easier. For more information on habitat structures, read the Fish Populations page.