Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Selecting a site When Buying a Property?

Belmont County Ohio is a nice area. Barkcamp State Park is in the center with a 117 acre lake (electric motors only), a peaceful campground, and is a very secenic area. Salt Fork State Park is just west and is Ohio's largest state park. I've caught some quite nice LMB in the early mornings on Salt Fork Lake (just under 3,000 acres). The area is also quite scenic with some nice geographic features.

I am located just northwest of Belmont in Tuscarawas County. I also have 103 acres with a 5 acre lake in Guernsey County (adjacent to Belmont). I often say I like Ohio and the change of seasons, though midway through Winter I sometimes find myself eating those words. Sure enough though, Spring once again arrives and the wintertime blues are quickly replaced by lush green terrain. One plus of the winter season is that it is preceded by autumn colors and when the leaves fall from the trees, the woods open up, revealing many features that would be otherwise remain hidden away.

Wildlife is abundant as well as woodlands and open areas (reclaimed sections from former strip mine operations). The Muskingum Watershed Conservency District lakes are also within an easy drive and offer a variety of fishing and recreational activities. The Ohio River borders eastern Belmont County. Interstate 70 traverses Belmont County for easy east-west access and I-77 is near for north-south travel. For shopping convenience, St. Clairsville offers Ohio Valley Mall with many outlying stores to cover all your shopping needs (but don't fail to pass by the little stores in the little towns too).

Feel free to drop a note if you'd like anything more.

On the topic of "When Buying a Property"...

I spent several years casually searching for property throughout southeast Ohio. My basic desires were for 100 acres with pond potential and a place to eventually retire to, but close enough to home so I could enjoy and develop it as desired. I did a lot of checking through online real estate sites and walked many acres checking out various properties.

I was fortunate. Found 103 acres, 70% wooded, an open meadow (former narrow strip mine area) through the center with a five acre lake (great fishing) - located within 37 miles from my home. Within moments of touching foot on the property, I knew it was the one. Some reflections...

Buying a property with an established pond is a huge plus. Take a fishing pole along and depending on the season you should be able to get a good idea of what is actually there.

My original intention was to find a property and build a pond. With many properties I checked out, I would not only walk and check out geographic features, but also observe adjacent areas to see what water features were nearby - and their quality.

When looking at properties, various state, county and other government agencies can a great resource. I've walked my property with several people (before and after buying) and they have been most helpful. An online search for "Ohio Pond Management Handbook" will yield a great deal of pond info for not only Ohio, but similar areas too.

Don't hesitate to attend any seminars and classes when you find them. The cost is often reasonable and it can be a great opportunity to not only learn, but to network with people having similar interests and to learn from their experiences.

While living in a rural area is great, access to shopping and other conveniences & activities is a big plus. I presently live on the edge of town (part in and part out) with 7 acres and a creek along my property line. My property is about 4 miles from a small city with interstate access. Some properties I've been to were somewhat remote and in retrospect, I would really hate to spend long periods of time on the road just to pick up a small but needed item that I didn't have on hand.

Spend time checking out the property during the day and at night - the sights and sounds can vary. Convenience to transportation can also come with related highway noise. It's nice to hear the howl of a coyote on a distant hill and to be able to talk without being drowned out by a passing vehicle with a loud exhaust. I can see the interstate from a high point in one section of my property and depending on the wind direction, can sometimes hear the highway. I simply allow it to be a reminder of how nice it is to have the convenience of easy travel nearby. The site I have chosen for an eventual homesite is located near the center of the property and is in a level area midway down a hillside. I have a view of the meadow and lake through the edge of the woodline and the high side of the hill lays between the homesite and any possible highway sounds.

Consider the topography and access to various areas of the property. When I first purchased the property, I had a rather long hike to the water. After some work, I now have access to the waterside via my truck with 4wd and after a few more improvements, any vehicle should be able to make it there.

Consider the improvements and maintenance you want to make once you have the property. I'd let the contractors with heavy equipment build the pond and make the big changes (check for references and previous work). For everything else, consider a 4wd compact (or larger) tractor. I have a Kubota 2710 with front end loader, brush hog, box blade, backhoe and other attachments. There is always something needing done and having a piece of equipment to handle it without a lot of manual labor is a huge plus.

Good luck and have fun!