New Stock Tank (otherwise known as a pond)

[BB_TX]

I plan on having a stock tank dug since I don't have any permament water. I e-mailed the local extension agent to see if they offer any kind of assistance in designing/locating/building such a tank. He referred me to the USDA- Natural Resources and Conservation Service, saying that they had assistance programs thru the federal government. I am not sure I want the fed. gov. involved in doing anything on my land. Has anyone had any experience with them?

 

[rdln]

Try ducks unlimited or other waterfowl organizations,
dont blame you on the big brother help.

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue>He referred me to the USDA- Natural Resources and Conservation Service, saying that they had assistance programs thru the federal government</font color=blue>

If the feds are willing to pay, I'd put up with the BS. Worth looking into anyway.

 

[Bird]

I've had no personal experience with them, but I think all my neighbors got their tanks dug under that program. I've been told that the amount they pay just depends on how many people apply that year; they get x number of dollars for that purpose and divide it up. One neighbor told me he had a couple of tanks dug that cost him nothing, then in another year, he had to pay half the cost.

 

[fishman]

I'm not sure how much assistance is actually available through the NRCS anymore, but it sure would be worth a phone call. As someone who works for "Big Brother" I can assure you that most of us are just normal people . . . no, really./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

State wildlife, fisheries, and conservation agencies are a really good source of unbiased information, in my opinion. They don't have any profit motivation, unlike private industry. Despite popular opinion, most employees are highly educated, experienced, and dedicated people. They have to be, because competition for state jobs is fierce, and only the best applicants are selected. Speaking from personal experience, it's comparatively easy to get a job in private industry with a bachelor's degree in a conservation field. An advanced degree is required for all but entry-level positions in most state and federal game and fish agencies.

O.K., off my soapbox. Give NRCS a call and you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[BB_TX]

Bird and Fishman - Thanks for the info. I think I will look in it.
And Fishman - I didn't mean to offend. Just that government programs sometimes come with strings attached. But being a veteran member of TBN, are you sure you are completely normal? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[fishman]

No offense taken at all. You're right about those strings, there's sure to be some. But it won't hurt to check it out.

We're all normal. It's the rest of the world that has problems!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[dmccarty]

BB_TX,

Here is a link to a NC Extension site about ponds.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/fisheries/index.html

Lots of good info. The pond size and managment issues
should be the same from state to state I would think. I would
be shocked if your state does not have the same kind of
information and help that NC does.

I looked into this a year a so ago and there was a permitting
and fee system to build the pond. Mainly had to do with the
dam and its construction/safety. The fees where reasonable.

I just received my NC Wildlife magazine and it had a story on
farm ponds which got me to thinking about one on our land.
I'll go back and see if the magazine had any info that is not
on the web site I referenced. I the think the site is better.
One of the key things seems to be to have at least a 1 acre
pond that is deep but not to deep. I was looking at the
topography at one pond site yesterday and we might get an
acre or two if we spend the money....

Later,
Dan

 

[BB_TX]

Dan - Thanks for the additional info. I am going to contact the local NRCS office and get whatever information they can supply.