Last week I received some great advice about planting willow trees near a pond from some of you who obviously have great experience... so, just to let you know, we're taking your advice! Instead, we are getting about 16 spruce trees (vary in height from 20-40 feet) from one of our neighbors higher up the mountain. What do you think is the safety zone for planting those near the pond without endangering a betenite seal?
Secondly, our land is in a valley with a stream running through it. While the land is ours, the surface water is not (that is owned by all those people in AZ and CA - a long standing battle from Colorado ranchers). Anyway, the approx 30 acre feet of water WE own is in an aquafer 890 ft down and we pump it. Yes, we have tons of water to irrigate, but that is the only way to get it. Therefore, the pond must be filled from the well. Is there a minimum depth that affects evaporation but would also allow us to stock a few trout for the kids? (We are at 7000' elevation.)
And lastly, as this land is essentially on three levels, 1)the valley with stream, 2)our house level which is on a plateau about 15 ft above, and then 3)another rise 10' that slowly climbs about 300 ft over the rest of our land. We are planning on putting the pond on the house level (about 150 ft from the house) and thinking of using a rock lined spillway vs. a pipe to the valley below. Is that the best aprroach for a dig-out pond?
Sorry to ask so many questions at once... but you guys are obviously the experts!
