Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam building distance from roadway

Does anyone know if there is a set back requirement for a dam to be built from a private road? If there is, does it mean from the beginning of the dam, the center of the dam or the water line? I am going to build a 1-2 acrea pond on my eleven acreas in Liberty Hill, Texas. Thanks.

austinmartin,

Do you own the private road? I am unaware of any "requirements" as long as its completely on your property and not in a right-of-way. Perhaps a legal mind from Texas will respond.

Gator

A USDA thought...
Do not overlook the possibliity of failure of the dam and the resulting damage from sudden release of water. Do not locate you pond where failure of the dam could cause loss of life; injury to person of livestock; damage to homes, industrial buildings, railroads, or highways; or interrupted use of public utilities. If the only suitable pond site presents one or more of these hazards, hire a qualified person to investigate other potential sites to reduce the possibility of failure from improper design or construction.
As an interesting footnote, while looking for my "pond project property", I came across a beautiful existing 2 ac pond on 26 acres. (story has it, documented in the county historical society...?) It had been constructed back in the 1920/1930's and at the time was a rod & gun club, attracting the Chicago gangsters to central Illinois as a retreat. Anyway, when I had the county NRCS agent (a gal that just wow'd me with knowledge and participation)look over the site, the first thing she noted was the likelihood that it's construction location would never happen in this day and age. The dam towers about 30 feet over a county road that runs right behind it.

When I stood on the dam, I was pretty awe struck at the construction. The backside was extremely steep and I questioned the engineering wisdom. I was quickly reminded that, back then, ponds were often constructed with horse and mule teams with pull-behind scrapers (like strip coal-mining). If you could drain the water, you would see a very gradual slope on the water-side. This is how they piled up the soil...by walking the horses/mules up the gradual slope and dumping the soil at the top, returning down the same gradual slope to go scoop s'more. V interesting

Compacting the dam with hooves as it was built.

Kind of like when I build my mini-ponds, but instead, I'm the horse.

austinmartin,

Did you ever review the responses to your first post?

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000109;p=1#000000

Thanks for the information and taking time to post photos.

I have contacted an engineer and found out that federal regulations will not permit a dam with over 6 ft. of water behind it without Uncle Sam becoming involved. Thanks again.

Hey Austin,

I have not heard anyone else, in Texas, confirm what your engineer told you; RE: REQUIREMENT that the federal government gets involved on dams holding over 6 feet of water (which would be a majority of the ponds in Texas).

1. Maybe someone on the forum has more experience with Federal Laws can shed some light on the subject.

2. Have you contacted your local NRCS agent, they may be able to help you?
http://www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/

3. Contact an experienced local pond builder - they should know the legal issues connected to your specific loctaion/design.

It may also help if you post additional details about your pond here on the board; size, loctaion etc...I guess the net of my post is that it may pay to either provide more details here on the forum and/or get a second opinion locally.

Gator