OT: Building a Pond

[Wizard.sixpack]

Thinking of building a pond on my place. What am I getting myself into? What are my first steps? Any special permits or surprises that I might not be aware of. Ballpark costs? I am thinking something small like maybe 1/2 to 3/4 acre.

 

[engie]

Call MDWFP. There are a lot of programs for both design and cost assistance.

 

[Car Ramrod.sixpack]

Check out the MSU Extension Service they have a good publication on farm ponds.

http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/managing-mississippi-farm-ponds-and-small-lakes

Also the USDA has one as well.

https://nrcspad.sc.egov.usda.gov/DistributionCenter/product.aspx?ProductID=115

 

[Marler]

Pond boss has a lot of good info

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

Well I did go there and it says that their program does not assist in pond construction cost.

 

[turkish]

How tough are the regulators, agencies on these types of projects nowadays. I had read that the Clean Water Act, or something like it, gave some pretty powerful capability to restrict new construction of these.

 

[WilCoDawg]

If the EPA was around when Disney was trying to build Disney World, Disneyland would be their only park in the US.
This is an example of the all-too-poweful, unelected, bureaucratic government agency.

 

[My Bru]

If the EPA was around when Disney was trying to build Disney World, Disneyland would be their only park in the US.
This is an example of the all-too-poweful, unelected, bureaucratic government agency.

Not entirely. Total demolition of wetlands helped contribute to the floods in Houston during that tropical storm a few years ago. Granted it was a 500 year storm but wetlands do help in that regard. And the Clean Water Act itself is not so terrible......especially in MS. Many states have enacted legislation that goes way above and beyond that. Like Florida.

 

[The Peeper]

If you only go 1/2 acre make it deep. W/ that small a surface area in the summer w/ droughts and natural evaporation being increased chances are good you are going to get stages of algae, fish kills, etc. You can add water circulation that will help, either fountains above the water line, underwater circulation pumps, aerators, etc. to help. Get some management help the first year or two until it stabilizes and then you can handle it yourself. I used to help a neighbor with his and it can be a lot of work if you want to keep it stable. He used to fertilize the fish, feed them regularly, stock it periodically had to weed eat the banks and spray unwanted aquatic weed, etc. He kept a count of how many fish were caught and gave those numbers to the company that helped him manage it so they could tell him slot limits and numbers to keep after they shocked it for him and did fish counts of existing species.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

The Clean Water Act did have a lot teeth when Waters of the United States was enacted in the Obama administration. It has since been overturned as it should be. Some of the regulations put in place were a little ridiculous.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

good deal. Great info. When you say deep how deep you talking?

 

[WilCoDawg]

Never said they were a useless agency. They do go too far sometimes. Look at the issues they’ve created in CA trying to save a minnow which has caused an extreme undue burden on farmers.

 

[My Bru]

Never said they were a useless agency. They do go too far sometimes. Look at the issues they’ve created in CA trying to save a minnow which has caused an extreme undue burden on farmers.

Agree. And a lot of it depends on if a nimrod is working for the USACE implementing it, or a decent human.

 

[J-Dawg]

Thinking of building a pond on my place. What am I getting myself into? What are my first steps? Any special permits or surprises that I might not be aware of. Ballpark costs? I am thinking something small like maybe 1/2 to 3/4 acre.

Could potentially run into permit issues depending on your planned placement and design. If your design impacts above a certain threshold of stream feet or wetland acreage, you could be setting yourself up for needing a Section 404 permit from USACE. You also must take into consideration any potential downstream or upstream effects from your design... especially if it would effect a neighboring property.

 

[GTAdawg]

I say just dig the damn hole, screw your regulations, and stay off my property. 'Merica.*

 

[PartTimeGenius]

I’d advise contacting the guys at Headwaters. I’ve seen MSU Extension mentioned here. At one time this would have been a great suggestion. Unfortunately, you will not get the same quality product you once would. With all of the re-aligning over the past 10 yrs, you’ll likely get a “specialist” that was educated in an unrelated field.

If you just want a pond with fish, that is one thing. If you’re looking for a well-planned, well-managed fishery, I’d suggest giving these guys a shout. Good luck.

http://www.headwaters-inc.com/about

 

[dawgoneyall]

Don't get a pond boy.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

Don't get a pond boy.

Why not? Haha