Another New Pond

[jamestaylor72]

Do you guys with ponds and those thinking of building ponds have issues with the state dept of natural resources? I bought 5+ acres with 2 small manmade ponds and the WI DNR has say over what I do with them. I'll need to dredge them in 3-5 years and I'll have to get permits...
I understand if they were naturally occuring but these were both dug by the farmer that owned the land.

Hi WBWI,, I called the local Conservation office and talked to one of the officials,, and told him my plan. Hi said as long as it's so far from the road,, so far from septic,, and property lines etc.. They are concerned with runoff,, spillage, etc. things like that.

 

[jamestaylor72]

Pond....?

Around these here parts they call that a LAKE!!!

Nice job. Thanks for sharing the pics. Looking forward to seeing it again in a few months when the grass grows up on the banks and it settles in a bit...

Lol,, thanks Blagadan !!

 

[jamestaylor72]

Well I went out today to take some pictures,,, and after just 4 pics, the memory card read full. So, this all I could come up with for you guys. The pic of the entire pond, is from up on the hill. Then took a few of the overflow pipe, which is still running at full tilt. Then of where the hill ties into the pond bank. Can't wait for summer to get here, and get the peddle boats out there !!

 

[Tororider]

Yeah Toro,, the clay hill is pretty big. Would be an excellent sledding hill,,, except that you'd end up in the pond. LOL Sure makes for a great observation point up there though!!

You just make sure the ice is strong and you could probably make it halfway up the bank on the other side if you packed it down nicely.

In MI it depends on if it is considered part of wetland. If not, you can do a lot without permits. There is a saying, it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Not that I am advocating breaking the law, but some laws seem silly, if not used for their intended purpose.

 

[firefighter9208]

I'm concerned about your overflow pipe. First of all it looks inadequate. What size is it? What happens during a very heavy downpour. Around here the standpipe is sized based on the size of the pond. You also must have an emergency overflow in case the pipe can't handle the flow.

The pipe is also vertical with a screen over the top so it can't be stopped up by leaves, etc... I have a feeling that you'll have problems keeping the fish in your pond, as they can swim out the pipe when the pond is full.

We have a 1 acre pond that averages about 6' deep. Our standpipe is 10" necked down to a 4" pipe going through the dam at the base. We then have two 24" diameter pipes 1' about the standpipe that go through the dam as an emergency overlow.

Have you considered a fence around the pond. We had a friend that's nephew drowned in a backyard pond. He wandered away from the house when they were outside. They found him in the pond. They have since filled in the pond.

I put a 4' fence around mine with gates and locks. Looks like you are close to neighbors and your pond could become a liability (like a swimming pool) if not fenced.

Your pond is beautiful! I don't mean to sound all gloom and doom....

Chris

 

[jamestaylor72]

I'm concerned about your overflow pipe. First of all it looks inadequate. What size is it? What happens during a very heavy downpour. Around here the standpipe is sized based on the size of the pond. You also must have an emergency overflow in case the pipe can't handle the flow.

The pipe is also vertical with a screen over the top so it can't be stopped up by leaves, etc... I have a feeling that you'll have problems keeping the fish in your pond, as they can swim out the pipe when the pond is full.

We have a 1 acre pond that averages about 6' deep. Our standpipe is 10" necked down to a 4" pipe going through the dam at the base. We then have two 24" diameter pipes 1' about the standpipe that go through the dam as an emergency overlow.

Have you considered a fence around the pond. We had a friend that's nephew drowned in a backyard pond. He wandered away from the house when they were outside. They found him in the pond. They have since filled in the pond.

I put a 4' fence around mine with gates and locks. Looks like you are close to neighbors and your pond could become a liability (like a swimming pool) if not fenced.

Your pond is beautiful! I don't mean to sound all gloom and doom....

Chris

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the input, and compliments!! Not sure on the pipe, the contractor laid it in there. I know its either a 4'' or 6''. We've had a tremendous amount of water already this winter with the heavy rains,, and snows, melting,,ice etc... so far its doing its job. "crosses fingers" Actually, ya know I never thought about this fish swimming out the pipe,, thats a pretty good point!! I think I'm gonna make it like yours with the bigger standpipe & some type of screen or grating.

As for the Liability,, I'm having it insured for liability,, and have no trespassing signs going up. Its a farm/ rural community,, so more like a farm pond.

 

[bigballer]

awesome project. how thick is the ice? looks like a perfect hockey rink!! just stay away from the drainpipe.

 

[rexcramer]

Hey there, nice looking pond.

Is that "road" still running through the middle of the pond just under the ice? It seems like that could be a problem in August when your pond level drops a couple feet. You dont want your pond cut in half every summer.

The weather has been good to us this winter. I just dug the exact same pond as yours except deeper, mine is over 20' in the deepest hole. My pond wasnt done until October and now it is nearly full, only 3 feet to go and we still have a foot of snow left to melt. Also I have been using my dozer to push snow into the pond when I am bored.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/112901-my-house-barn-pond-project.html?highlight=house+barn+pond

 

[jamestaylor72]

awesome project. how thick is the ice? looks like a perfect hockey rink!! just stay away from the drainpipe.

Thanks bigballer,, not sure on the ice. Haven't had a chance to measure it.

 

[jamestaylor72]

Hey there, nice looking pond.

Is that "road" still running through the middle of the pond just under the ice? It seems like that could be a problem in August when your pond level drops a couple feet. You dont want your pond cut in half every summer.

The weather has been good to us this winter. I just dug the exact same pond as yours except deeper, mine is over 20' in the deepest hole. My pond wasnt done until October and now it is nearly full, only 3 feet to go and we still have a foot of snow left to melt. Also I have been using my dozer to push snow into the pond when I am bored.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/112901-my-house-barn-pond-project.html?highlight=house+barn+pond

LOL,, yeah the shallow hump is still there. Actually, that was a cost saving move, because obviously the more dirt the contractor had to push, the higher the cost. So we settled on that design with the intentions of using it as a shallow swimming area. Plus I figured if it presents a problem, I can always have a trackhoe dig the rest of it out. But, it's 6 foot in the middle, so hopefully we'll be ok.
Funny you mention pushing snow with the dozer to accelerate the filling process,,,, that was my intention as well using the FEL. But, mother nature handled that for me,,, rather quickly I might add!!

 

[rexcramer]

One thought I had is it may present a problem if you decide to stock the pond with fish. When the pond water is close to 90 degrees in August and there is only a foot or two of water over that shallow area the fish may not want to go back and forth. It may make the temperature of your overall pond a little higher.

Of course it may also help, fish are hard to predict. Anyways enjoy