Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help New Spring Fed Pond Questions

Hi all! I'm hoping you might be able to help. I'm looking at buying a property with a small pond that is described by the realtor as "spring-fed" in WA state. The pond isn't super big, and doesn't look maintained at all (leaves on the surface and very murky water).

How do I determine if it really is 'spring-fed'?
Is it possible to make the water cleaner/more clear? If so, how?
I know I would need to take the leaves off the surface, but is there a way to 'clean' the bottom?

If we get the property, I am trying to figure out if it's possible to make the pond look better without hurting anything that might be currently living in there.

Thanks for all the help!!

Can you post a topo map of the location?

If not, (or you don't want to) you need to walk the land and see if the topography feeds water into the pond. If so, then you should also see some evidence that the pond occasionally floods out of its confines. There should be an outlet pipe, rock-lineded drainage point, etc. for that circumstance. That would be evidence that it is probably a surface water pond.

If you see no evidence of the features above, then it is more likely to be a spring-fed pond. (However, there could be an outlet pipe in a spring fed pond.)

Has the region seen above average or below average rain? Recently, and over the last 3-12 months? If the area has been dry short term and long term, but the pond is still at a pleasing level, then that is a good sign for you. Whether it is spring fed OR fed by surface water.

As to your questions about cleaning out the pond, yes it is almost always possible. However, depending upon your circumstances there could be a huge range in the amount of money/effort required to clean the pond.

Some people really enjoy the look of a tree-lined pond. However, falling leaves are the enemies of the long-term health of a pond.

As to the things living there, some people on the forum have natural ponds that are mostly untouched and provide habitat to the local organisms. Other people have heavily managed ponds that are quite productive as to specific, desirable organisms. Hybrid designs between the two end points are also feasible The choice is entirely up to you.

Good luck on finding your special property! Perhaps this is the one?

"Spring fed" could also mean that it is just fed by groundwater and not really a "spring". The bad things about springs is that there is no one way valve on them, the water can flow both ways underground.

Take a look at the historical imagery of the place on Google Earth. See if the pond water level stays the same from year to year to year.

I had a spring coming into my 3rd pond on the upper end, so I cored a trench between it and the pond with the top of the core at my desired full-pool level. I kinda put a 1-way valve on the spring:)

Thank you SO much! I really appreciate the advice & information- it helps a LOT!