Anyone ever permit a 'Farm Pond' or borrow pit

[paulsharvey]

So, the short answer is, it's complicated. Without being at all political, there are potentially like 5 government agencies that could be involved; and just cause 1 doesn't regulate at say a state level, it doesn't mean one doesn't at the county level. You have FDEP/Water Management District; potentially ACE; County building department; County public works department; possibly FDOT (only if the property touches their ROW or drainage Easements).

 

[1 Old Man]

Always better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

If you're in a rural area, and buy 20 ac; digging 4-6' deep, 80' open pond shouldn't be a big deal.
That's about 1/8 of an ac. Just a nice tank for animals or fish etc. Just make sure you're not in
protected wetlands or interfering with a navigable waterway. Good luck.

 

[paulsharvey]

If you're in a rural area, and buy 20 ac; digging 4-6' deep, 80' open pond shouldn't be a big deal.
That's about 1/8 of an ac. Just a nice tank for animals or fish etc. Just make sure you're not in
protected wetlands or interfering with a navigable waterway. Good luck.

Yes, I was just mostly looking into the permitting to place it in the wetlands, which would be ideal from multiple angles; should stay full, not wasting useful property, and all that. Doesn't look like it's worth the hassle to dig it in wetlands; although some things imply if it's consistent with agricultural activities, it's exempt.

 

[paulsharvey]

The pond I ended up with. It's kinda made up of two bowls with a narrower, shallower area between the two bowls. Each bowl is roughly 2.5-3 acres, for a total of 5.5 to 6 acres. The side is boarder js the one over grown with lily's and weeds. Deeper areas are maybe 4.5-6 ft deep right now, but it seems to seasonly vary by several feet.

Happy to report we ended up finding the property we wanted, with a natural small lake/large pond boarding it, no need to dig.

 

[jyoutz]

The pond I ended up with. It's kinda made up of two bowls with a narrower, shallower area between the two bowls. Each bowl is roughly 2.5-3 acres, for a total of 5.5 to 6 acres. The side is boarder js the one over grown with lily's and weeds. Deeper areas are maybe 4.5-6 ft deep right now, but it seems to seasonly vary by several feet.View attachment 3176808View attachment 3176809

Happy to report we ended up finding the property we wanted, with a natural small lake/large pond boarding it, no need to dig.

Just a question: being Florida, wouldn’t a pond be an alligator attraction?

 

[paulsharvey]

Just a question: being Florida, wouldn’t a pond be an alligator attraction?

Sure, even if they don't currently have gators, they move around, and I'm sure it will at some point. Gators are pretty much a non issue. Leave them alone, and you can be swimming, wading, fishing 50 ft away. Now, a 9 foot gator, I'd keep away from, but I've caught a 5 footer on land (funny story, but it was actually inside a fire station), and been swimming within 40 ft of 7 footers. Water Moccasins worry me more than gators.

 

[jyoutz]

Sure, even if they don't currently have gators, they move around, and I'm sure it will at some point. Gators are pretty much a non issue. Leave them alone, and you can be swimming, wading, fishing 50 ft away. Now, a 9 foot gator, I'd keep away from, but I've caught a 5 footer on land (funny story, but it was actually inside a fire station), and been swimming within 40 ft of 7 footers. Water Moccasins worry me more than gators.

You’re braver than me. Both of those are something I would stay clear of. I’ll take our small prairie rattlers to those huge moccasins and those mini dinosaurs.

 

[paulsharvey]

You’re braver than me. Both of those are something I would stay clear of. I’ll take our small prairie rattlers to those huge moccasins and those mini dinosaurs.

I'm not one of those people that are scared to death of snakes, nor one of those guys that seems to be missing that caveman instinct to avoid them. I know guys that will pick up rattlesnakes. Me, I'm the type that doesn't really think about them too much, but after I spot a snake, I'm definitely cautious.

 

[mikester]

Always better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Around here that could be a very expensive mistake. Our government agencies have pretty steep penalties and forced land reclamation on your dime. Satellites and aircraft keep updating those government databases...

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Around here that could be a very expensive mistake. Our government agencies have pretty steep penalties and forced land reclamation on your dime. Satellites and aircraft keep updating those government databases...

Another reason for me to be thankful that I don't live and work where you are, point being some government agencies will make it virtually impossible for a landowner to do anything on their own property simply by asking a few questions, yet they will gladly accommodate you if you are willing to shell out many thousands of $ to them for permits and supposed reviews, and after that has been done everything is suddenly okay.