We just bought 34.5 acres in Limestone County. The property has a .8 acre pond on it. The neighbors are local (several generations), and have said that my pond has never been dry (going back at least 50 years). I've attached a topo map and a pic of the SE portion of the property where I want the new pond.

My goal (eventually) is to put a house on the property and then another, bigger, pond. I'd like 2-3 acres down on the SE part of the property.

There looks to be plenty of watershed to supply another pond. The SE part of the property is about 5ft below the level of the RR tracks, and my neighbors said "when it rains hard you have about 3ft of water on that end of your property." Don't know how much of that is hyperbole and how much is truth. Either way, I'm sure that lots of water moves in the direction of where I want the bigger pond.

Where do I start? Can you point me to someone who can give me some advice and help plan. I'm a minimum of 5yrs out, I'm sure.

Thank you.

I would be concerned about what the neighbor said about 3' of water. If you have water overflowing your pond, you will never be able to manage it for fish. they will come and go as the water rises. You need to figure out where the flood zone is and make sure your pond is above it. Another problem is you have to be able to get rid of all the water coming in once your pond is full. Too much water is as bad as not enough water.

BrianL,
Thank you for getting back with me. Before we bought the property I checked the flood maps. The property isn't in the 100yr flood zone (though, I'm very sure the SE section of the property gets very moist!). I'll run up to the property next time we get a monsoon through this way, but I doubt the lower part of the property gets 3' of standing water. (FEMA map att'd.)

Regardless, I absolutely understand that there will be troubling issues if I build a pond in a location where it gets washed out from time to time.

Do you know of anyone I can contact to start planning this pond?

If you install a siphon system, you shouldn't have to worry about it.

I would start with buying this, and learning as much as you can before contacting a builder. A good builder is going to ask many questions you may not be ready to answer yet. I wasn't.

http://www.pondboss.com/item.asp?id=163&r=store%3Fp%3D2

You will have to copy and paste link, or it is Mike Otto's book, Just Add Water.


Then read as much as you can on this site. There are so many questions.......
Areas I would try to find to learn about prior to...:

Goals- When I started I didn't like this question, because I knew so little about the process. All I knew was I wanted a hole with water in it. You need to try and figure out how you are going to use the pond. Trophy bass, trophy bluegill, swimming, not worried about trophy just want to catch fish, catfish pond...... Each one will send you in a little different direction.


Location of pond

Size of pond

Cost of construction- this was one of my big surprises. Expect $15-20K per surface acre, or $2-3/yard of dirt. How much dirt they have to move depends on the shape of the land you have.

Shape of pond

contour of pond(built in structure)

slope inside(3:1) and outside of pond(4:1 or even 5:1) less slope outside the pond makes it much easier to mow, but needs more dirt moved,thus more $

How deep?(12-16'?)

type of spillway(over flow area, pipe, or siphon) and emergency spillway

What size pond will your watershed support?

What kind of structure are you going to put in it?

Aeration? (helps prevent fish kills and keeps water in better condition, removes thermocline)) Will you have electricity close?

What kind of fish?

What effect does one type of fish have on another? You really can't stock it however you want and it do well. Everything needs to be in balance, as best you can.

Are you going to feed fish? What kind of feeder should you buy? What kind of fish food are you going to feed?

How are you going to keep the pond mowed?

Is livestock going to use the pond?

Soil samples to determine if you will need to lime BEFORE it fills with water

DO you have the right soil type or will you need to bring in clay or other type of liner?


There are more but this gives you a starting place.

Don't forget to test the water chemistry.

Good list Brian

One thing you might do is Mike Otto's book Just Add Water. It's about the best I've read on the subject. And cheaper than 15 minutes of dozer work.

Also Pond Boss Conference VII is coming up in October. That is a good place to learn about many different things pond related.