Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations swimmable pond?

I'm still waiting to start my pond, but i was wondering if anyone has tried to make a portion of their pond "swim friendly". I doubt if something as simple dumping some sand in the corner would be anything more than a temporary fix, but i would be curious if anyone has been down this trail. Thanks,
r. howard

One important thing is an absence of structure in the swimming section - you don't want any thing that could snag or cut body parts. And I would think sudden dropoffs on the bottom, where it was shallow enough to walk, could be an unpleasant surprise.

We have never put in a sand "beach", but appreciate a ladder into the water at the dock for easy access to the water.

I was wondering if there is some kind of material that is algae resistant, that you put on the bottom, so as not to have to wade in muck. something like plywood sheets mounted on cinder blocks, though obviouly plywood would'nt work. Just thinking out loud..

I've never heard of anything like that, Howard (which doesn't mean it's not out there). We just use pool shoes/dive boots and floatation vests, and avoid the bottom.

Howard :

Here are 2 good threads on the subject.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002347;p=2

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000127#000000

We use pea gravel for our swim area. It feels good underfoot and stays in place pretty well.
Chip

I talked with Jimmy Houston on the topic as it pertains to gravel beds. He suggested a tip he has used. He used some landscape fabric over a natural sand bottom and then placed several inches of pea gravel over the fabric. This helps keep the gravel from sinking into the sand and acts as a good bass and BG nesting area prior to the water being warm enough to swim. This is what I have done in a 5 foot deep area just off my dock.

Around here, lots of people use "manufactured sand" which I believe is some type of finely crushed rock. It doesn't get a black muck under it like regular beach sand.

My pond-clock is tickin' pretty loud now. The beach is still in the plan. Until further notice, I am going with the a wide, gradual built up berm perimeter, particularly along the bottom end of the beach zone (underwater). I will line it with the geotextile fabric Geo-tex thread and fill 'er up with cheap, generic sand. I expect the same quarry pit guy that trucked in the 1200+ tons of driveway gravel last year will treat me right (hope? :rolleyes: ).

One of our ponds is designed to be two-thirds swimming pond, one-third fish. The lower two-thirds has no cover or structure. We have a pier, made of welded channel iron on a 2 7/8" drill stem frame, with cedar planks screwed into into it with brass screws. We chose cedar because it's plentiful and we have a sawmill nearby. The dock is a focal point for swimming. Kids gather, shove each other into the water, or jump. It's a cool place, and will have a diving board and ladder before long.
The princess Debbie designed a zip line for the kids. It's attached to a custom designed steel pole buried in concrete 36" deep, held in place by guywires at each end.
We have a small beach, make of finely ground granite from a nearby abandoned railroad right of way. The beach has a small retaining wall in water three feet deep, with shadecloth underneath, with the crushed granite on top of the cloth.
Off the dock, the water is 14 feet deep, and we have a waterfall in the upper end of the pond, coming from a pipe which is fed by the well. We try to keep the pond level full with the well, especially during summer.
Debbie and the kids, their friends (and I)enjoy swimming in the pond.
By the way, we also irrigate the lawn from the same pond.
The only caution about swimming is to pay attention to your water quality. Don't let it become stagnant. Aerate, if needed.

You know until I owned a pond (a dry one) I never knew the expense it would require. You see ponds all around and you think they would be cheap to have. Then I see this thread and all the extra things done to your ponds. All I am asking for is WATER !! You guys that have water in your ponds are very LUCKY !!

Mike,

I'd guess 90 % of the ponds in my area are virtually expense free on a recurring basis. Very few people, unlike most of us here, spend anywhere near the time or money on them as we do....but then, they also miss out on the rewards. One of the most significant rewards, IMO, is the work itself and seeing the results of it.

thanks for all the great feedback folks..if i ever get to start my pond, i'll definitely have some idea's.

Howard,
My dock is in deep water with a good ladder to get out. I like to be able to get out and stay clean. Kids are required to wear life jackets.
One post on my dock sticks up about 18' above water level and, being the crooked hedge tree it was, angles away from the dock at the top. From this I hung a 14' heavy duty lifting strap and then put a handle deal on the end to hang on to. You aim towards land on the dock with the rope tight and when you jump it sends you around about 400 degrees where it kind of arcs. Kids sure go off of it again and again. I go off it too. theres a few pic's on my homepage, need to get some of the swing in use.
There's different things to add, like this or Bob's zip line sounds fun.
Sure you wouldn't regret any addition that entertains kids.