Photo Diary of 1/2 acre pond construction

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Re: Picture 16: Last for now

Mike,
That picture is beautiful, but I must ask, when does a pond become a lake? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Mike & Larry: I am intending to stock it with LMB, and a feeder population of Bluegills.

 

[PondKeeper]

Re: Picture 16: Last for now

Larry

"when does a pond become a lake?" never. This is one of those times when size doesn't matter. As I understand it, All ponds are "man made" and lakes are natural. The word pond is a derivation of "impound/impoundment". In short, we both have ponds.

BTW, I have a small population of LMB and 200 trout. I don't have any feeder stock. I cull the LMB to keep them low in number and avoid stunting.

Mike

 

[dfeck]

Re: Picture 16: Last for now

Larry,

I also live outside of Rochester (Mendon) and would like to see the pond as my wife and I have been thinking about a pond on our property. Not knowing anything about pond construction has got me a little intimidated. Do you mind me asking what the cost was excluding the rock? Time to build? Looks great!

Doug

 

[Dutchman]

Re: Picture 16: Last for now

I read another definition of the term pond somewhere. One that is more geological. The definition does not include man made structures such as large lakes behind humongous dams down to my little 180' x 75' pond. A natural lake is formed by a geological event such as a glacier receding or upheavals in surrounding areas. A lake does not fill with sediment and is essentially eternal, unless another geological event changes it's nature. A pond, on the other hand, can be made by a number of things, natural events, changes in weather patterns, critters (including man), etc. However, a pond will eventually die, that is it will fill with sediment over time, albeit perhaps a long time in man years.

Dutch

 

[GaryM]

Re: Picture 16: Last for now

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Mike,
That picture is beautiful, but I must ask, when does a pond become a lake? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Mike & Larry: I am intending to stock it with LMB, and a feeder population of Bluegills. )</font>

A Real Estate person will tell you it's a POND when you're buying and a LAKE when you're selling.

 

[Dutchman]

Re: Picture 16: Last for now

Of course today's definition of a pond usually involves some sort of plastic or rubber liner and $20 gold carp with pet names. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Dutch

 

[jinman]

Re: Picture 16: Last for now

Larry, you have the beginnings of a really nice pond. By the time some grass grows and you collect more runoff, it will really start to come alive. I especially like your house since it has that big wraparound porch/deck and your view must be spectacular.

As to the names of ponds, lakes, and such...
There are many Army Corps of Engineer dams that form lakes that are really ponds by the purist definition. Most of them are also called reservoirs, and also referred to as lakes in their official names. Here in Texas, most of the farmers call their ponds "tanks" in reference to stock tanks. As I was growing up, we never used the term pond unless it was a tiny little pond where people kept goldfish and such in their back yards. Now, I think many people use the term stock pond and you don't hear them called tanks unless you get out into the country.

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

The rains are coming

Well, No pictures now, but brought in another 20 tons of rock. Wall is now 12 feet high! We are supposed to get 2 inches of rain tonight and tomorrow and it will be interesting to see what the watershed delivers.

Doug, I sent you a private message and would be glad to go over all the specifics with you. We are probably neighbors.
Larry

 

[EddieWalker]

Re: The rains are coming

It's sure going to be a nice pond. Don't forget those after pictures.

The term pond is used here allot for anything under an acre of surface area. No set rules, but anything over an acre seems to become private lake.

Have you considered building you dock before the water fills up. Sure would be allot easier.

 

[PondKeeper]

Re: The rains are coming

Larry.

Have you thought about an aerator yet, if not, you probably will later. If you do you will need electric. The fall would be a great time to trench it. When I ran mine in the fall it blended in fine by mid spring. The wire is inexpensive, leave it burried in case you want it later.

I use a surfact aerator in the summer, it is better for trout. LMB people use bottom aerators. I use my bottom aerator in the winter to keep the ice from locking up the pond, keeps about a 15' open area. Most fish kills, if they occur, happen in the winter under ice if it is snow covered blocking the sun. I'm not there all winter to tend the snow so I have to support NYSEG.

Mike