Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Add Rocky Habitat?

You could put your spawn beds for the SMB on ledges on one of the shorelines that does not have lots of concrete. Or if you have a ledge 3-5ft wide you could add small sized gravel and pea gravel mix (3/8"-3") in several areas along the ledge or a continuous span of gravel. IMO I prefer separate sections of gravel areas at least 30ft apart or placed adjacent separated with visual barriers of concrete rip-rap. If male SMB cannot see nest sites of other males then they will nest fairly close together. Concrete can be placed below the gravel patches on ledge/s and between spawning areas.

Since you are still constructing the pond have contractor make some ledges or wide steps where you want gravel and areas where you want the concrete to stop sliding down the slopes. It is a lot easier to slide / dump concrete down the pond slope or bank compared to trying to get it back up the slope becasue it slid down way too far. The ledges allow a basal stoping spot to form when adding concrete . It also tends to keep flat concrete pieces in place as years pass.