So you want to build a pond?? - 01/29/10 03:09 AM
First off, what a great site. I am running through all this great info trying to take it all in at once...what a vast supply of knowledge (and humor).
I am going to accomplish my dream, even if it kills me. (typed with a smile) Ponds were a big part of my youth (fishing, trapping, learning to swim)and I want a pond to be a big part of the other end of the scale on my life and the youth end of my grandchildren's. I may be the poster boy for how not to build a pond, and I am going to need much advice before this is through.
My pond is finished in terms of built and collecting water, but it was delayed enough that I haven't got all of the structure in place, or the dock for that matter. Come spring I need advice on how to begin the stocking to prep for an eventual LMB, BG, and Red Ear population. Instead of beginning this process in the fall I will now be looking at the spring thaw. My topsoil is not fully in place so nothing got seeded and I expect some erosion and silt accumulation in the spring.
My county requires all ponds to be approved by Soil & Water, and they develop the site plan, require test holes, do soil evaluation, issue the permit and check that it is finished according to their satisfaction. They are understaffed, hard to find, prone to cancelling appointments, and it took many weeks before they decided to deny the permit with no discussion of how we might fix their suspected problem. There was a 6" layer in one corner of the site at a depth of 6' that had 20% fine sand and 80% clay. It worried them. They refused to listen to possible solutions, clay packing, trenching and keying or anything. They turned it over to the Township who said it wasn't a problem and go ahead. With the pond 3/4 dug the Twp guy said no wait, I think you need a permit (requiring a civil engineer's approved plan) or you can fill it back in, or in a month I will turn it over to the County Prosecutor...... With 2 months of delays and an engineer and his expensive plan, and a clay packed trench dug through the suspect zone, I have my pond.
So now that I have fought through the red tape, I can finally start thinking about the stocking, the structure, and the finish grading and planting in the spring.
So the first of many questions, if I get forage fish in place early in the spring will I be able to stock the rest by the end of the summer, or will I need to wait longer to get the base of the food chain better established?
Thanks
I am going to accomplish my dream, even if it kills me. (typed with a smile) Ponds were a big part of my youth (fishing, trapping, learning to swim)and I want a pond to be a big part of the other end of the scale on my life and the youth end of my grandchildren's. I may be the poster boy for how not to build a pond, and I am going to need much advice before this is through.
My pond is finished in terms of built and collecting water, but it was delayed enough that I haven't got all of the structure in place, or the dock for that matter. Come spring I need advice on how to begin the stocking to prep for an eventual LMB, BG, and Red Ear population. Instead of beginning this process in the fall I will now be looking at the spring thaw. My topsoil is not fully in place so nothing got seeded and I expect some erosion and silt accumulation in the spring.
My county requires all ponds to be approved by Soil & Water, and they develop the site plan, require test holes, do soil evaluation, issue the permit and check that it is finished according to their satisfaction. They are understaffed, hard to find, prone to cancelling appointments, and it took many weeks before they decided to deny the permit with no discussion of how we might fix their suspected problem. There was a 6" layer in one corner of the site at a depth of 6' that had 20% fine sand and 80% clay. It worried them. They refused to listen to possible solutions, clay packing, trenching and keying or anything. They turned it over to the Township who said it wasn't a problem and go ahead. With the pond 3/4 dug the Twp guy said no wait, I think you need a permit (requiring a civil engineer's approved plan) or you can fill it back in, or in a month I will turn it over to the County Prosecutor...... With 2 months of delays and an engineer and his expensive plan, and a clay packed trench dug through the suspect zone, I have my pond.
So now that I have fought through the red tape, I can finally start thinking about the stocking, the structure, and the finish grading and planting in the spring.
So the first of many questions, if I get forage fish in place early in the spring will I be able to stock the rest by the end of the summer, or will I need to wait longer to get the base of the food chain better established?
Thanks