Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Selecting a site Improving on nature

I have a hundred acre farm that I bought a few years ago and would like to build a pond. My delema is that I don't know where to put it. I'd like to put it near the house but I don't want to take up any of the pasture or field space.

Probably one third of the farm drains to the back of the property where there is a seasonal creek that flows through a woodlot. My main purpose for the pond is wildlife, skating in the winter, maybe swimming in the summer.

Back in this seasonal creek area I recently discovered some old water wells that must have been used to water cattle 50 years ago. The water level is right at the surface. My thoughts are that if I just dig a big hole down in this area, blend it in with the seasonal stream, then I will have a seasonal stream with a full time pond area.

I know most of the discussion on this board involves a building ponds with clay lines and having alot of control over the ponds ecology. I guess my question is, could what I want to do work? or am I more likely to just make a big mess. I just bought a track loader with a backhoe and I am starting to make a list of the projects I want to do.

Thanks and I look forward to your input/Doug

"Aye, that's the rub."

One solution is to pick a location that makes a good pond but is (and will always be) one of the poorer pastures/fields.

Our pond is in what most people would pick as the most likely location. It is also the field that was so full of holes, rocks, and steep slopes that it was hard to bushhog, let alone cut hay in. I was always thinking about digging down a foot or so and getting rid of the rocks; after the pond was dug I found out they went up to the size of a VW.

My second pond location (still in the planning and waiting for funds stage) is a swale that is too wet for hay or pasture, with a small grove of trees that keep falling over when the wind blows hard. I figure by selectively moving the spoils and rerouting drainage when I put a small pond in there, I can improve 3 fields around it and lose a mudhole that's impossible to mow.

If you don't have the topo map for your place, get it. You can post it here and we forum members will be happy to help pick good pond sites.

Here is a topo of the property (I hope my cut and paste works). The seasonal creak is the little penisula of green.

The other problem I have with pond placement is that I have a hydroline across my property, and, of course, its near some of the better pond sites.

Where is the house and what does the green represent? Are the gray lines roads?

What are the 4 little darkened rectangles?

Come on, Dave! You know what those little black rectangles are. They are crystal meph labs.

Oh, now I see.

In the upper left hand corner I see a place that goes from 206 ft. down to 193. Nice drop but since it's not all on your land, the neighbor could put a dam above you, on his property, and cut you off from drainage. I also see a drop from 205 down to 194. It might take some terracing but would probably work.

The green area is forest. The blank area is hay field. The little rectangles are buildings. House, drive shed, and barn.

There is a low flat area about mid point up and to the left of the map. This is where I am hoping to build.

Thougts?/Doug