For those of you who have read my posts over the past couple of months, things are going from bad to worse. Here is a short background...
I have 67 acres of secluded land with a nice stream running through it. How big of a stream? You can take a giant step over it. I want to put in a 13' high dam and back up about 6-7 acres of water. The NRCS (very nice, frendly people) say they can only help me if my pond is for irrigation of crops or watering livestock. OK, so how many cows, horses, goats do I need to qualify? No one can or will say. They tell me to go to the ACoE.
Last week, I call the Corps, and they tell me that the only way I can even hope to build this is to "mitigate". OK, what does that mean? It means I have to pay them about $200,000 for the permit! Why, I ask? Quote: "Because we are trying to discourage people from putting in any more private ponds".
It would be very easy for me to go off here about the inherent rights (or lack thereof) of private property owners. Instead, I just want to ask, if they cannot give me a valid reason why I cannot build a pond, then should I should be able to build it. Right? By the way, there are no "wetlands" or other issue like that involved here.
There are two reasons for me sharing this story. First, I would like some advice from anyone who has had a similar experience. Heck, I would just like to hear from someone who has followed the rules and gotten a permit for a recreational pond. (not for farm use)
Second, I want to make everyone on this forum aware of what is going on.
I have had several people tell me to "just go ahead and build it". Well dog gone it, I just should not have to break the rules and subject myself to the possibility of fines, or worse, just to build a pond in my back yard. I am at a complete standstill on my project now. I don't know where to go next. Please share your thoughts and advice.
