Questions on building a pond

[NCDeere]

Hello. I have a large ravine on the property I recently bought. My guess is that it was created by the runoff rain water from my neighbors property. I don't have any pics now or I would show you. It is pretty wide and about 15 feet deep give or take a little. I was thinking about making a pond out of part of it. I am not sure how to do it.

I guess I would simply dam up the ravine and let the rain water fill it. I would think I would also need a method of letting over flow escape. If it is just rain water that is filling it, will it be a nasty pond? I don't want a grungy, nasty looking thing. But I am not sure what would happen to it during those times where we go a while without rain and it doesn't have a fresh water supply.

Is there any place I can go to learn more about pond construction. If anyone has answers or opinions to my questions, I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks,

Bryan

 

[Dickey]

pondboss.com should tell you about anything you want to know /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

Be sure to learn about dam construction. There are some things that have to be done for it to hold water and remain where it's supposed to.

Rain water and runnoff are how most of us keep our ponds full.

I go to Pondboss.com also. It's a good site for info about building a pond, setting it up and maintaining it.

 

[NCDeere]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Rain water and runnoff are how most of us keep our ponds full. )</font>

Thanks. I'll go to visit Pond Boss. As far as the water, I have seen some nasty ponds before and thought it must have been because there was no fresh supply of new water. Perhaps I am showing my ignorance on the subject a little. I will definitely learn the ins and outs of dam construction as well.

Thanks for the advice.


Bryan

 

[WCarlson]

There are a few books available from Amazon.com or libraries that I have found to be very useful in pond design, construction and maintenance. They are: Earth Ponds Sourcebook by Tim Matson, Earth Ponds Second Edition again by Tim Matson both published by the Countryman Press and Ponds Building Mantaining and Enjoying by Carolyn Garrick Stern published by Progressive Farmer, Inc. Building a pond and then finding the books is a bit like buying a tractor, then finding TBN.
Bill