Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Meandering creek

I don't have a pond yet, as I'm reminded daily by my co-workers as I read the most recent posts on this forum. Sometimes I'm even so bold as to contribute an insignifanct tidbit, that is more often than not, shot down by the more credible contributors to this site.

I especially like to read experiences of people building ponds for the first time, for obvious reasons. Here are a few thoughts that came to me as we were surveying pond site this past weekend.

State regulations require permit if watershed is over 150 ac, dam is over 25' high, pond is over 50 ac feet of volume. Looks like pond will be just over 7 ac, my watershed is 112 ac, and dam looks to be around 22' high. All good so far. Here is where it gets complicated.

There is a spring fed creek of which the source is on my neighbors property. This creek winds through my property for almost 1/2 a mile, and its waterway is the predominant feature on an otherwise barren 50 ac of brome pasture.

I walked that creek Saturday. A normal 10 minute walk took almost an hour. Not sure what the volume of the spring is but is enough to keep a steady flow in a creek that in most places you can jump across, some pools would require two jumps. It is full of deep undercut banks which are decorated by dangling yellow orange root tangles of the osage orange trees growing on the banks. The pools are full of minnows and crayfish, and there are shallow gravelly bars that seem to be favorite bathing spots for a family of raccoons. There are two small waterfalls cascading over limestone rocks that look like they were chiseled into perfect rectangles. There is a low marshy area, home to 3 old towering willow trees, and on Saturday anyway, 2 woodcock were calling it home. On down the way there is a plum thicket and some saplings that seem to be the primary enemy of a very large KS whitetail, which my son is presently harassing almost every morning, to no avail. The rabbits seem to be breeding like, well you know how. Although not seen that day there are also turkey and a covey of quail that call that creek and treeline home.

I have a couple of draws on the property that could probably be turned into 2 really nice one ac ponds...

Are you a subscriber to Pond Boss mag? The last few issues have delt with attracting wildlife to your pond.
I think with some planning you will add to the potiential wildlife habitat not destroy it.

Ric,

Subscribe to the mag, bought most of the books. I've already begun planting trees, shrubs, food plots for deer and turkey...

My concern is not so much in attracting game, as it is in changing a pretty cool little ecosystem.
The big pond is going in, think I was just feeling a little nostalgic this morning.

Pedro -- actually, I know just what you mean. When I first read your post, I thought about that exact thing. Don't get me wrong -- I love ponds and pond fishing. However, my first thought was: gee, I wonder if there are any Topeka shiners down in that small stream. I wasn't going to post, but since you brought it up.... :-)

Dave