Ponds must be more affordable in Illinois than they are here in GA. You couldn't pay for the stream mitigation fees for $10,400 here.
Since 99.99% of the ponds in our area are embankment ponds, and any ditch that ever holds water or runs when it rains is defined as a stream, any pond construction requires destroying a stream and therefore you are required to pay ridiculous per/foot stream mitigation fees.

-RFL