Hi all, what a great forum this is! Wealth of information! I am in the process of buying 73 acres in Orange Cty, IN. Doesn't have a pond yet, so I am kicking around ideas about location on the property. Please indulge me my allowing me to illustrate. I have three attached pictures. The first, "Lots," shows the parcels I am buying. The second, "Pond Location High Level," is a topo map of the area. The last, "Pond Location," shows my ideas on pond site. I have two options I wish to explore.
Option 1 is to dam the area between two hills on the northernmost parcel. This is my preferred option because it would keep the pond fed by natural spring, would allow me to potentially put in a hydroelectric generator, and my homesite location would be adjacent to a pond and the sound of running water. Problem with this site, is the fact that I would be impounding the source of the Shirley Creek. Has anyone ever dealt with the Army Corps of Engineers regarding impounding creeks? Permit cost/duration/response time?
Option 2 is to dam up a seasonal creek bed and trade land with the USFS to ensure my pond remains on my land. This option would allow more flexibility in building site and doesn't impound an active creek. Has anyone ever traded land with the USFS? Is it worth the hassle?
And regarding pond construction, this area evidently has "karst" soil, containing lots of rocks. I think I'd have to have clay trucked in to line the pond? Anyone ever done this and can comment on the expense?
I would also use the pond to lay in geothermal piping. If I get option 1 with hydroelectic, I'd use it to power the geothermal. I want to live as much "off the grid" as possible. I'd probably install solar panels too, potentially enough to power the rest of the house via 12 volt.
I have dealt with both but not on a pond. You will have your hands full but it would be worth the effort to check. Beautiful location. I would check on the costs etc before I decided which way to go. You don't want to go through the effort only to find out after much effort and cost that the soils will not work or are cost prohibitive.
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