Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pond size vs water shed

Hello
I know they say 10 acres of water shed per acre of lake. I was just wondering if anyone out there has around an acre pond with only 6 acres feeding it. Thats about what I have that I just built. Deepest part is about 10 ft and the inside of damn has some pretty sleep slopes. I am located in central Missouri and receive I believe about 42 inches of rain fall a year. Also mostly cut grass and pasture feeding it. I do have some of my gutter feeding it as well. Thanks

Joe, those "rules of thumb" about watershed ratios vary pretty wildly across the country. However, you being that far east in Missouri gets you to about the 5 acres of water shed per acre of pond contour in the guide.

I believe you should be fine, except for extended drought periods. (When nobody's pond is fine.)

Do you cut and bale your pasture, or does it have grazing livestock? Manure will fertilize your pond as it washes in. Probably not too bad at the start, but it will become more of a problem as your pond matures.

Also, since you should have fall rains coming, you need to get some groundcover established around the pond ASAP. Your bare ground that is showing after construction will try to run sediment back into your pond and start filling in your deepest spots. You can search the forum for best groundcovers if you haven't already started your plantings.

Congrats on the new pond!

Drill a well if the cost is not too much for your area - I have owned a number of ponds over the years and all had wells that could keep the level up during a drought -

Its the price to run the well. I was spending like 150 a month in electricity to run my current well just in the evening for a month.

I understand but in my opinion having my pond go dry during a drought is not an option - hope it all works out for you -