Pond construction and pond building is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the act of constructing a water feature on land that naturally would have been without. They can be great additions to any landscape but must be handled with extreme care.
There are a few factors that landowners have to consider on their pond construction journey.
Dealing with large amounts of water is complicated. Building a pond incorrectly can result in hazards and emergencies down the road that can cost you thousands. But through careful planning and consideration, you can add a helpful, beautiful, and valuable water feature that will last for years to come.
Before you contact contractors of any kind, you should discuss your plans with local legislators and conservation services to understand best the laws and regulations you’ll have to follow. Next, think long and hard about what you intend to use the pond for. Is it recreational, agricultural, to increase wildlife traffic, or for aesthetic purposes?
Once you know the “why,” you can start figuring out the where, based on three factors.
The most important of the three is your soil composition. It must be impermeable and well-compacted, achieved with high amounts of clay and low amounts of organic matter. Land that is gravelly or loamy (the preferred soil type for plants and gardening) is generally considered unsuitable for pond construction, but to know for a fact, you’ll need to do a soil survey.
Pro Tip: Plan to dig a few test pits in potential pond locations.
A pond is a microclimate that will humidity the landscape and stabilize the surrounding environment, including slowing flowering and frost. It will improve biodiversity, help sustain during droughts, and much more.
But to reap all the benefits, it has to be located away from powerlines, off-road trails, or the slopes above homes, communities, or barns. If your embankments fail, you could be legally responsible for the damage to the structures below.
The type of ponds you’ll find depends mainly on the intention behind building them. Of course, there are naturally occurring ponds, but those tend to be used for whatever is possible or beneficial to the landscape or ecosystem.
Off the top of our heads, here is every type of pond (based on intended purpose).
The above examples can be used on personal or commercial properties.
The other types of ponds to consider are based on the nature of their construction. There are four.
Also called watershed, hill, or drainage ponds, embankment ponds are the best for relatively flat landscapes or rolling hills. They are created in a depression between two hills and are almost entirely dependent on rainfall and runoff to maintain. All factors, such as depth, shape, and size, are limited by the area's topography and the pond's size. This is generally the cheapest type of pond construction.
You’ll often see this type most commonly used in flat lands that have independent water sources. They are partially excavated as the material is used to build up the edges above the water level. This is a medium-expensive option for pond construction.
Excavated ponds are almost entirely constructed below ground level, often require an external water source to maintain, and are generally considered the most expensive option for pond construction methods. Usually, excavation is only used for ponds smaller than a half-acre due to the amount of material you need to move.
Using an existing hill on at least one side of the pond location, levees are built on the other remaining sides using excavation to form the pond.
A pond build can be tedious, lengthy, and expensive, but few other actions are as transformative. Not only have we repaired ponds for our clients, but we’ve also helped move them from idea to reality.
With careful consideration, planning, and design, pond construction can be one of the best decisions you make for your land. We understand that. We also understand that people have different needs, budgets, and expectations.
Here at Caskin Development, we are committed to providing the best experience to our clients while delivering the highest quality results. Our reputation proceeds us, and for good reason. If you want to move forward with your pond construction, you can get a quote [here] by inputting some project details.
Water features not only add variety to a landscape, but they also enhance the quality dramatically. Few features are as transformative to a property. However, they have to be heavily considered and planned for during the design and construction process.
One of the first issues to think over is location. It’s recommended that you try to place the pond 1) at the cross between the primary sight line and the longest possible dimension of the water’s surface and 2) where some trees, shrubs, and vegetation will be along the shoreline—not too many. By having trees surround the pond, you’ll likely create drainage and embankment issues in the future.
Aesthetically, this will cast interesting reflections and provide context and shape while blending the water into the rest of the landscape. It helps the look be more balanced.
There is no one-size-fits-all way to do pond construction, but a few general rules support a quality design.
When your pond meets those requirements, it gives you deeper water with a consistent, stable slope. It also supports spawning habitats, as most of your plant life will reside in shallow water. So, when you minimize shallow areas, you’ll limit overgrowth.
Eventually, no matter how careful you are, your pond will collect silt and organic matter, which will need to be cleared and have the ratio reinstated.
Any pond needs a consistent water source to stay full. Naturally, you could lose an inch or more a day due to evaporation in warmer, dryer conditions. So, a good supply is vital for pond success.
NOTE: We DO NOT recommend diverting a stream or a swamp to fill a pond because of the high potential issues due to the following.
All in all, there are three potential water sources for any pond construction. You need one, and it needs to be consistent.
Rainfall-runoff comes from drainage or watersheds from surrounding areas, exactly which ones depend on the topography and structures included in your landscape. It can be an excellent source for maintaining a pond if the chemical and physical characteristics are correct. It might be redundant, but no one should be excited to hold runoff if it’s polluted or full of silt.
In our experience, the best source for runoff is a watershed that is 1) undisturbed so that there is limited mud and silt and 2) well-vegetated. If you plan pond construction for farm or agricultural purposes, you’ll need a very large buffer.
Groundwater can be pumped from surrounding wells and can technically be used as a primary water source, but there are things you need to know.
If you want to limit life in the pond, this is a great option. Also, water quality can be better.
Surface water from reservoirs, rivers, springs, and streams can be used, too, but this water will need to be filtered to remove all the critters, such as wild fish, eggs, and larvae. Even with filtering, it can be difficult to prevent wild fish from contaminating your pond.
On top of a consistent water source, you need a spillway. People regularly forget that water in also means water out, especially to control the depth. No matter what type of pond construction you choose or your water source, you must factor in an adequate spillway. Emergency spillways are also highly recommended.
No construction project (that is successful) happens because of spontaneity. Due to the level of engineering, legal liability, and effort that is involved in pond construction, we recommend giving yourself months to plan this project.
For any excavation project, which includes pond building, the land has to be thawed. Weather conditions must align, as you cannot let the bottom get wet before your team is prepared for that stage.
And, in pure transparency, you need to give yourself a buffer of time for things to go wrong. We aren’t underselling fellow pond construction teams, but no timeline is perfect or impenetrable.
Similar to any construction process, there is a lot of planning involved. Introducing water to your landscape is a big deal and should be treated as such. And as appealing as skipping all that planning might be, without it, you can be costing yourself a mountain of trouble down the road—and pond repair ain’t cheap.
The process is tedious, but it’s good in the long run.
Your pond will serve a purpose, even if it’s simply aesthetic. But you have to decide for certain what you want that to be. Here are some common types of ponds that might align with your intentions. If you don’t see what you are looking for, don’t fret. These are just the most common ones.
Remember that you are creating an ecosystem, and understanding the why can help determine vital design and location aspects, such as
We recommend that you thoroughly consider this before inviting contractors to the conversation.
We’ll be frank. Some landscapes will be completely unsuitable for pond construction. Does that mean you can still do it? Yes. Does that mean you could spend a lot of money on a sub-par water feature? Yes.
Suitability greatly depends on your soil type and land composition. Across the southeast, the soil is mostly clay, which is ideal for holding water. On the other hand, sandy, dispersive, or sandy soil will need some help before it can hold water. You’ll likely need to add bentonite clay, which can get expensive fast.
The choice, ultimately, lies with you. Is the cost worth the result?
If you decide to proceed with the project, we recommend you also consider the water. In the eyes of the United States government, water is mostly theirs and sort of everyone else’s. Anything you do the the water (additives, changing pathways, etc.) will affect your neighbors and surrounding ecosystems.
Get to know the area around your potential pond, understand the water budget you might be limited to, and do not forget that this is a shared resource.
When you are moving towards pond construction, you need to plan quite a bit. Our pond repair services are often used to fix avoidable mistakes. There are a lot of steps in this process, and you don’t dig for a long time—that’s on purpose. Please don’t skip to digging.
First, you will need test pits to know what you’re working with under the surface. Talk to a local geologist, as they will have more information and a better understanding of what you can do.
Second, take a look at your annual rainfall volume, watershed (the area of land that feeds the water on your land), and how that naturally moves across your land. You’ll want to know if your pond will be supported by that watershed, specifically the size you hope to achieve. And remember, consider water in AND water out. How will water exit your pond in the event of a “once in a lifetime” flood?
Third, if you want a clear pond that stays full and clean, you’ll need to evaluate the trees around your potential location. If they die, the root spots can act as pipping away from the pond. They can also pull a good deal of water out.
Finally, understand the legality of what you are trying to do. Are you in a wetland? Are you trying to build too close to established water sources? Are you building in a spot that could threaten the structures and properties around you? Can the pond be used as fire protection? Skipping over these questions can result in legal trouble down the road.
While most contractors will help you with each of the previous tasks, you would not be remiss if you waited until this point to talk to companies. But you would be remiss to think you could simply hire someone to move some dirt and think that’s the end of it.
For projects as complicated as pond construction, you’ll talk to contractors, designers, operators, insurance agents, geologists, and engineers before breaking ground. You might think that’s a lot for one little pond, but believe us when we say it will pay off in spades if you check off all these boxes.
During the construction process, you’ll move through site clearing to replace the topsoil on the shoreline and nearby land. It will look something like this.
Once you, your property, and the watershed have gotten used to your pond existing, you can continue to the next step. Take your time with this one. Careful, slow additions are always a better choice.
Ducks must stay off your pond initially because they eat plant life way too fast. You can start by planting aquatics on the edges, and if you want to add fish, contact local fish and wildlife first.
Lastly, remember that allowing livestock to use the pond will hurt your aquatic life and introduce bacteria and parasites. Keep that in mind before letting animals use it.
Pond construction is the process of developing a sustained body of water in an area where they don’t occur naturally. It’s a delicate process that takes a good deal of planning and professional consultation to be successful.
Pond repair services are geared towards solving problems that cause the pond to be unable to hold water, such as leaking, damaged shorelines, and erosive forces.
Pond building is the act of taking land without a naturally occurring pond and creating one. Pond repair is the act of repairing any damage that lessens the ability to hold water.
Yes, please see this page. (LINK TO POND REPAIR PAGE)
A fire retention pond is used to prevent the spread of fire over a property. They are most common in areas that are rural and have limited access to firefighting infrastructure.
Absolutely, but there are some factors to consider. There are a certain number of gallons necessary for fire retention ponds that are determined during the permitting process. Generally, having a barn on the property increases the necessary size of the pond substantially. Also, the smaller the pond the more likely it will become stagnant, which means that a pool or filtrations/circulation system will be needed.
Yes, but with limitations. Wetlands are one of the most regulated and protected types of ecosystems due to how sensitive they are. Construction teams must be exceedingly careful navigating this terrain and working with state and federal regulations throughout the process.
Absolutely, you can check out our page on [wetland construction] to learn more about that process.
Koi ponds are constructed inside a small hole in the ground that is lined entirely with a thick, black plastic liner. While we will help you construct most anything, the types of pond construction this page is referring to are generally over 100 feet in diameter.
To answer the question, yes, we will build koi ponds. Please input project details HERE to discuss further.
The cost of pond construction completely depends on each of the following factors.
