Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Selecting a site New Pond depth

I just built a new pond with a maximum depth about 8 feet deep. This pond is 3/4 to 1 acre in size. Before I start stocking it next year (fall 07'), I want to know anyone's honest opinion. Is it deep enough? I plan on stocking bream (coppernose, bluegill, redear), LMB, and MAYBE black crappie. I have no problem in draining this pond and getting it dug deeper.

Where are you?

What is the size and makeup (forest, grassland, cropland, parking lots) of the watershed?

What is your average annual rainfall (and how average is it - I think some parts of Texas haven't got their average for 4-5 years)?

I am located in south Louisiana. Don't exactly know the average annual rainfall but it's safe to say that we have severe droughts during summer months. This pond is located in the bottom of a grassy pasture(great runoff from three sides). There aren't any trees near this pond either. If I do decide to drain this pond, I'll probably plant a willow tree or two near the edge and also build a pier deck with a small gazebo about three or four feet out over the water.

Hi Kep,

I live in the same area. Rainfall in our area is ~59" per year, which is about the highest in the contiguous US states. If your pond doesn't leak, and your watershed area is 3x-4x the pond size, you should have no problem with 8'.

http://www.betweenwaters.com/etc/usrain.html

Hey Kep...welcome to the PB show.
Good stuff from Theo and Bobad. Here's a couple more links for precip/evap calc's:
evap calc\'s and this evap discussion thread .
Finally, and this will relate a little more to Theo's questions, a link to the USDA publication 590 Pub 590 link . If you can get your county NRCS div of USDA send you a copy, you will have scads of mathematical specifics and standard practice to study.