Pond Manual Intro & Chapter 1 · water. Any undesirable fish in the pond’s watershed should be...

Developing a good fishing pond involvesmore than just pushing up some dirt to

impound water and stocking fish. By building awell designed pond, an environment can becreated that will support a multitude of organisms,both plant and animal, important to fish. Withproper stocking and management, a pond canproduce a quality fishery, benefit terrestrialwildlife, and be relatively maintenance-free.

Pond Types There are two types of ponds: embankment

and excavated. An embankment pond, hereafterreferred to simply as a pond, is made by buildinga dam across a ravine or draw to impoundflowing waters. An excavated pond, hereafterreferred to as a dugout, is made by digging a pitin a flat area that is usually wet for extendedperiods of time or near a stream/river, keepingin mind flooding potential. Dugouts are normallysustained by groundwater and/or springs. Waterdepths must be monitored during the excavationprocess to ensure sufficient depths for fish andfishing are available when completed. Attainingproper depths may be very difficult in some wetareas. Information for ponds provided through-out the remainder of this handbook, except fordam construction considerations, can also beapplied to dugouts.

Site SelectionThe success or failure of a pond may depend

upon the site you choose. Careful site selectioncan reduce construction and maintenance costs,and increase the benefits you receive fromyour pond. Although most potential pond sites

have some features that are less than ideal,many deficiencies can be overcome with goodplanning and design. When thinking aboutlocation, don’t forget about convenience. Awell planned pond that is close to home andeasily accessible will be used more often andprovide more enjoyment than one that is faraway and hard to reach. In addition, it is morelikely to be properly maintained.

Watershed The size of the watershed, or drainage area,

is an important aspect of site selection. Thewatershed includes the immediate pond siteand all land that drains to the pond. This mayinclude land belonging to other people.

The minimum watershed area needed for each acre of pond surface is called the watershed ratio. The ideal watershed ratiovaries from 20:1 in southeastern Nebraska to in excess of 50:1 in the Panhandle. This means

a 1-acre pond built in the southeast wouldrequire a 20-acre watershed to maintain waterlevels, while a similar pond in the Panhandlewould require a 50-acre watershed. The exactratio for a specific location depends on annualprecipitation, soil type, the amount and types ofvegetation in the watershed, pond uses, and theslope of the watershed.

POND CONSTRUCTION

Watershed ratios vary across thestate. Personnel from the localU.S. Department of Agriculture’sNatural Resources Conservation

Service (NRCS) office can help determine that ratio for a particular site.

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IDEALPONDIDEALPOND

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Ponds with large watersheds typicallyrequire a larger dam and therefore cost more to build. Ponds with very large watersheds, orvery high watershed ratios for their part of thestate, are often unsuitable for fish production.Major runoff events from heavy rains may causeflooding and erosion in the pond or spillwayarea. They may also bring in heavy sedimentloads that fill in the pond and muddy the water.The added turbidity, or muddiness of the water,affects fish, their food organisms, and aquaticplants. Even runoff from normal rainfall canslow fish growth by causing temporary foodshortages if most of the food items, particularlymicroscopic plants and animals, are flushed out.

When possible, check dams, terraces, andvegetated buffer areas should be established in the watershed before a pond is built. Thesepractices will slow runoff and allow suspendedsediment to settle out before entering the pond,thus reducing sediment problems and prolongingthe life of the pond. Terraces can also be usedto divert excess water away from the pond.

Another potential problem associated withmajor runoff events is fish movement. Fish mayswim out of a pond or enter it from either thewatershed or downstream areas during highwater. Any undesirable fish in the pond’s watershed should be eliminated, if feasible,prior to construction, or they may hamper fisherymanagement efforts. Installation of an overflowdrop structure in the dam will prevent most fishmovement into the pond from downstream.

It is difficult to maintain good fish populationsin ponds with small watersheds. Water levelsmay drop so low during prolonged hot and dryperiods that all aquatic life could be jeopardized.The smaller the volume of water, the faster itwarms and the less oxygen it can hold. Lesswater also means a reduction in the pounds of

fish the pond can support. With decreasedwater levels, aquatic vegetation can becomemore abundant. If this vegetation dies, itsdecomposition can reduce oxygen levels andcause a fish kill. Terraces can be used to divertmore water to a pond with a small watershed.

An important aspect of site selection is theimmediate topography (land elevations andslopes). Since earth moving is one of thebiggest construction costs, select a pond sitethat requires the smallest dam to impound the largest amount of water and that has an adequate volume of soil for dam construction onsite or close by. An ideal site would be a naturaldraw, or low area with a moderate slope, thatnarrows at the dam site. This would result in apond that contains adequate amounts of deepand shallow water. Steep-sided sites should beavoided because they will not contain sufficientshallow water for fish spawning and nurseryareas and may become unstable and slumpinto the pond once it fills. Sites that have extensiveflat areas should also be avoided because theymay result in high evaporation rates andexcessive aquatic vegetation growth.

To ensure your pond will hold water, it isvery important to determine the water holdingcapacity of the soils present at your site prior toconstruction. This will help you avoid building apond that doesn’t hold water. Soils containingsand or gravel are typically not suitable for damand spillway construction. Since soils can varyat surface and subsurface levels, a number ofcore samples must be collected within the siteto depths deeper than the expected excavationdepth. NRCS personnel should be contactedabout soil suitability and testing.

The best soils for a pond site are those thatallow water to penetrate very slowly. Theseinclude clay, silty clay, loams, and sandyclay/loams. When compacted and moistened,particles in these soils swell and seal the bottom.If there isn’t enough clay at the site to build areliable dam, it may have to be imported from anearby source. Keep in mind, some clay soils areeasily suspended in water and do not readilysettle out, causing the water to remain turbid.

See page 58 for additionalinformation on effects ofmuddy water and ways toresolve turbidity problems.

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Soils containing very porous components, suchas sand or gravel, or those containing beddedmaterials, such as shale or limestone, can allowimpounded water to flow under or around thedam and should be avoided. Soil suitability canalso be determined by checking nearby pondsfor clarity and seepage problems.

Land use in the watershed is anotherimportant consideration when selecting a pondsite. The vegetative cover in the drainage areagreatly influences the quality, quantity, and flowof water that enters a pond. Ideally, the bestcover for a drainage area would be undisturbedgrassland. Thick vegetation will slow runoff,acting like a sponge to soak up rainfall, and thengradually release clear, filtered water to thepond. Land with grass cover has minor erosionproblems. If possible, the pond should be locatednear established wildlife cover, which wouldencourage immediate use by various wildlifespecies. Land with row crops or constructionsites can have major erosion and sedimentationproblems if proper soil conservation practices orbuffer strips are not in place. A pond withwatershed disturbances can fill with sedimentin just a few years. Sediment-laden runoff fromrow crops may contain agricultural chemicalsand nutrients that can result in fish kills,reduced fish numbers or growth rates, andexcessive aquatic vegetation.

If a pond’s watershed must include cultivatedland, the amount should be as small as possible. Soil conservation practices, such asterracing, minimum or no-till farming, strip-cropping, and buffer strips, should be estab-lished before a pond is built in a cultivatedwatershed. A vegetated buffer strip at least 100 feet wide should be established and maintained between the pond and any nearbycultivated land.

Another site selection consideration iswhether there are potential pollution sourcesin the watershed. The fish community will benegatively affected if a pond constantly receivesrunoff from high nutrient sources, such as abarnyard or feedlot, domestic sewage, or heavilygrazed or fertilized pastures. Runoff from suchareas promotes excessive growth of aquaticplants. Any potential sources of pollutionshould be eliminated prior to pond construction.Cattle should be excluded from the pond anddam to prevent their excrement from enteringthe pond. An alternative is to construct a checkdam large enough to contain the contaminatedrunoff, or to divert it around the pond, if legal.Contact the Nebraska Department of Environ-mental Quality (NDEQ) regarding barnyard or feedlot runoff and domestic sewage. Use caution when applying chemicals, particularlyinsecticides, in the watershed. Misuse could resultin contaminated or dead fish.

Water SourcesThe water supply for your pond should be

adequate to replenish water lost to evaporationand leakage, but not so excessive that erosionand flooding are problems. Constructing a pondon a perennial (always flowing) stream shouldusually be avoided, particularly in easternNebraska, where most watersheds include cultivated land. Streams and major drainagesgenerally have large watersheds with numerouspotential problems, as mentioned earlier.

The quality of the fish community in a pond is a reflection of the quality of the watershed.

Consult NRCS and CommissionWildlife Division personnel about the various buffer programsthat are available. Most of the

programs provide cost-share and even payments to establish and maintain buffers.

See page 23 for additionalinformation on livestockrelated problems and howthey can be solved.

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Damming a stream usually requires anexpensive dam and an extensive spillwaystructure to control the volume of flow duringhigh runoff events. In drier parts of the state,constructing a pond on a small or intermittent(not always flowing) stream may be the onlyway to obtain sufficient water to maintain apond. A portion of a stream’s flow might bediverted into a pond constructed off-channel,with steps taken to keep out sediment andunwanted fish. Contact your local NRCS officeto determine the feasibility of this approach andwhat permits would be needed.

Dugouts can sometimes be built near aflowing stream or river to utilize groundwater,instead of surface water. The excavated soilcan then be used to make a berm around thedugout if the area is prone to flooding, reducingthe chance of unwanted fish entering the pond.

Springs may be considered as a potentialwater source if flows are sufficient. First obtain aflow estimate by measuring the flow volumeseveral times during the year. This estimate,along with estimated seepage and evaporationrates for the site, can then be used to determinewhat size of pond can be built. NRCS personnelcan help determine site feasibility.

Depending on the surface area and volume of a pond, a well or domestic water source maybe used to supplement the water supply.Determine the amount of water needed, andthen determine if it is economically feasible tomaintain the pond level with a well, particularlyduring dry periods. When a well is used to fill apond, the delivered water should be piped to thepond to eliminate erosion problems. Most wellsneed to be registered with the NebraskaDepartment of Natural Resources (DNR) andpermits may be required by the local NaturalResources District (NRD).

Ponds filled by springs or small, coldwaterstreams may be able to sustain trout if watertemperatures stay below 70 degrees year-round.Water temperature should be monitored beforetrout are stocked, particularly during the summermonths. Such ponds may have water too cool forgood growth of largemouth bass, bluegill and

channel catfish, but still too warm to sustaintrout. Since these types of ponds typically havegood water clarity and stable water temperatures,they may have excessive growth of aquaticvegetation, especially if they are shallow. Pondconstruction on most cold-water streamsshould be avoided, especially if a naturally-reproducing trout population is present or thestream needs to be an open system to facilitatetrout movement.

Pond SizeAn ideal fishing pond would cover 1 to 5

surface acres. Although ponds larger than 5acres would provide fishing for more anglers,they can be more difficult and expensive tomanage if problems arise. While fish populationscan be managed in properly constructed pondsof any size, smaller ponds, particularly those lessthan one-half surface acre, have a number ofdisadvantages. They are more susceptible towater level fluctuations and may even go dryduring droughts. Since smaller ponds are alsotypically shallow, they are likely to have excessive growth of aquatic vegetation and are more susceptible to summer and winter fishkills. Smaller ponds are also easier for anglersto overharvest, so harvest restrictions, especiallyfor bass, will likely have to be applied. For pondssmaller than one-half acre, it is best to allow nofish harvest at all (catch-and-release only). Pondsless than one-half surface acre are also not eligible to receive fish for initial stocking fromthe Commission.

Pond Depth and SlopesPonds need to have both deep and shallow

areas to benefit fish and fishing. Deep water

Pond construction on mostcoldwater streams should be avoided. Contact a localCommission fisheries biologist for advice.



protects fish from winterkill, discourages excessivegrowth of aquatic vegetation, helps withstandwater losses due to evaporation and leakage, andreduces the negative effects of sedimentation.Some shallow water is necessary for fishspawning and nursery areas and to producefood, especially aquatic insects, for fish. As ageneral rule, 25% of the pond should be at least10 feet deep in southeastern Nebraska and atleast 12 feet deep in western and northernNebraska. No more than 20% of the pondshould contain water less than 2 feet deep.Ponds should also have about 50% of theimpounded area at least 8 feet deep to preventexcessive growth of aquatic vegetation, especially those with good water clarity. Theslope from the shoreline to a water depth of 4 or5 feet should be no flatter than 1 foot verticaldrop for every 3 horizontal feet. The slopeshould then taper to at least 8 feet in depth fortwo-thirds of the distance from the dam to theupper reaches of the pond. Although the shore-line may have to be graded to attain a 3:1 slope,grading may be cheaper than the future costs ofaquatic vegetation control. Slopes greater than2:1 should be avoided because of safety hazards and the likelihood of shoreline slumpinginto the pond.

Having deeper water doesn’t necessarilymean more fish can be produced in a pondbecause fish production is based primarily onmicroscopic plant and animal growth occurringin the upper 3 to 5 feet of water. Also, watergreater than 15 feet deep may not be used byfish during summer months due to low oxygenlevels usually present at those depths.

Site Preparation Once a site has been selected, all trees, veg-

etation, roots, stumps, and large rocks must beremoved from the dam site. If they aren’t, thedecay of organic materials will create passagesthat will allow water to seep through the base ofthe dam. Large rocks may prevent the soil frombeing properly compacted, which also could

result in seepage. All topsoil containing organicmaterial removed from the pond site should be stockpiled close by. Once construction iscompleted, the topsoil should then be spreadover the dam and spillway to promote grassgrowth, and over the excavated basin to promotefertility and sealing.

Trees and brush should also be removedfrom areas that are planned for swimming andwading. Small ponds will likely need to have allbrush and trees removed since the majority ofthe fill material for construction of the dam willlikely have to come from the basin.

Some of the trees and brush that are removed can be stockpiled and then placedback in the pond basin or the upper reacheswhen construction is done. They will providefish habitat, enhance production of fish fooditems, such as zooplankton and aquatic insects,and help trap sediment and debris. Trees andbrush in non-excavated areas of the pond bottom should be left intact, especially in largerponds. They will also provide fish habitat andbecome a substrate on which aquatic organismscan grow.

To minimize impacts to wildlife, existingcover in draws and waterways leading into thepond site should also be left undisturbed. Thiswill also help to enhance water clarity andlessen shoreline erosion and sediment problemsas the pond fills. Decomposition of floodedvegetation will also improve water clarity byfacilitating settling of suspended soil particles.

Catfish-only ponds shouldhave all debris removed andthe bottom left smooth toreduce spawning sites and

lessen the likelihood of the pond becomingoverpopulated with small catfish.

See page 39 for additionalinformation on establishingand improving fish habitat.



Dam Construction It is important that the material in the dam

be tied to the soil in the foundation. A cutoff orcore trench should be cut lengthwise, along thedam’s centerline. This trench should be deepenough that all soil, sand, gravel, and looserock is removed down to either solid rock orclay. The trench should extend a minimum of 3feet into impervious subsoil or be anchored intosolid rock the length of the dam and into thevalley walls at each end of the dam. It shouldhave a minimum base width of 8 feet. Thistrench should be backfilled with clay, compacted

in layers to the top of the dam, creating a claywall within the dam. Failure to install a coretrench and wall can result in seepage throughor even loss of a dam.

The dam should be constructed of imper-vious moist material that is compacted in continuous horizontal layers as it is installed.Dams pushed up with a bulldozer and not compacted have a greater chance of failing. All material should be compacted by either a sheepsfoot roller or an earthmover with rubber tires.

The recommended dam top width is 10 feetfor a dam less than 20 feet high. For taller dams,

PONDFEATURES

PONDFEATURES


Trees/Rocks forFish Habitat

Trees/Rocks forFish Habitat

IslandIsland

StaggeredPond Depths

StaggeredPond Depths

WatershedWatershed

Underwater Terrace or Hump for Silt Collection

Rocked Mouth ofEmergency Overflow

Rocked Mouth ofEmergency Overflow

(Water Flow)

WatershedWatershed(Water Flow)

WatershedWatershed(Water Flow)

Underwater Terrace or Hump for Silt Collection Finger of Land

ProjectingInto Pond

Finger of LandProjectingInto Pond

(Crest of Dam)

Trickle TubeTrickle Tube(Entrance to

Water Outlet)

(Side of Dam that Slopes

Toward Pond)



the width should be increased an extra 2 feetfor each additional 5 feet of height. The actualdam height depends on pond size, along with thesize, slope and usage of the watershed. All damsshould have at least 3 feet of extra height, orfreeboard, to prevent flood waters and wavesfrom overtopping them.

The dam should be constructed with slopesthat will not slump or slide. The steepness ofthe slope on the pond side of the dam shouldnot exceed 3:1 and the steepness of the slopeon the downstream side should not exceed 2.5:1.

Muskrats and beavers sometimes burrowinto a dam. These holes may eventually causethe dam to fail due to erosion. An adequatefreeboard and width is needed to eliminateleakage or dam failure. Since beavers and especially muskrats prefer steeper slopes forburrowing, another option is to construct steeperbanks on the nearby pond banks than thosefound along the dam. Lining the dam face withrock 2 feet above and 3 feet below the watersurface will also deter burrowers.

Pond Bottom DesignThe least desirable design for a bass-bluegill-

catfish pond is one with a bowl-shaped bottom,with no irregular features. If core samples indicate soil is suitable (will not leak), bottom features can be made that will benefit fish production as well as angling opportunities.Trenches and drop-offs can be built to diversifybasin fish habitat. Deeper water near shore willbenefit fish and shoreline anglers, but shouldbe avoided in wading and swimming areas.Underwater terraces and humps can also beincorporated, particularly in the upper reaches ofthe pond. They will provide additional structureand slow incoming water, allowing sediment to settle out in the upper reaches of the pond. Those underwater structures should be

considered when it isn’t feasible to install sediment/nutrient entrapment structures abovethe pond. Excess fill soil can be used to createadditional shoreline by building fingers of landthat extend into the pond, or small islands. Thiswill increase shoreline access and produceadditional fish habitat. Make sure adequatedepth is present adjacent to these structures toprevent excessive growth of aquatic vegetation.

Water Control Structures Ideally, the pond owner should have

complete control of the water entering andleaving the pond. Inlet and outlet structures are two of the most important structural featuresof a pond. When incorporated into new ponddesigns, they will help prevent and controlmany common problems. An outlet structureenables the owner to drain the pond to make repairs, manage fish populations, control nuisance aquatic plants, and encourage desirableaquatic plants. Most waterfowl managementefforts require some water level manipulationand a flooded food source, so a water controlstructure needs to be included in the ponddesign. Installing only an earthen overflowspillway not only prevents water control, it canalso result in erosion and dam failure if it is notproperly designed and maintained.

An inflow or inlet control structure may be necessary to prevent waters containing pollutants or undesirable fish from entering thepond. When streams are used as a water supply,the stream should be diverted around the pondand an inlet pipe, which can be screened orclosed as needed, should be installed.

One type of outlet control structure is atrickle tube. The upper opening is installed at theplanned water level. The tube is then slopeddownward with the lower opening at or nearground level at the back of the dam. The tubeshould be large enough to carry most of therunoff, or at least large enough to draw thewater level down in a short period of time oncestorm flows subside.

Additional information onbeavers and muskrats isprovided on page 78.


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Another option for ponds with a largewatershed is a drop outlet structure which allows water to drain quickly. It allows water totrickle over the rim of an open, vertical pipewith the rim set at the desired water level.Water is then drained from the drop structurethrough a horizontal pipe through the dam.

Ponds with these two types of outlet structures can be drained, either partially orcompletely, by either installing a gated valve orstop logs inside the drop outlet structure, or byinstalling a drain tube near the bottom of thedam. An accessible valve can then be installedon the drain tube, below the frost line in theearthen toe at the back of the dam. Water levels also can be manipulated by pumping or siphoning, but this can be time consumingand expensive. An optional watering line canbe installed with the drain tube to providewater for livestock below the dam.

Another type of outlet structure is the bottomwithdrawal spillway, which discharges waterfrom the bottom of the pond. This device isdesigned to carry much of the incoming muddy

water through the pond, dam, and then down-stream, resulting in a minimal rise in the pondwater level. It also maintains good water qualityby removing stagnant water, sediment andorganic materials from the pond bottom. Thiswill improve the productivity of the pond and extend the life of the pond by 50%. Anoptional watering line can be installed throughthe dam to facilitate livestock watering belowthe dam.

Outlet structures, particularly drop structures,can prevent unwanted fish from entering thepond from downstream. Regardless of the typeof outlet used, anti-seep collars should beinstalled around the pipe that passes throughthe dam to prevent the pipe from washing out.Trash guards or hooded inlets should also beinstalled on drain pipes, both for safety and toprevent them from becoming clogged with debris.

Another necessary feature for water overflow,especially for ponds having outlet structures, isan emergency spillway. While the drainpipecarries water during normal runoff, an emergencyspillway carries flood runoff away from the



pond so the dam is not damaged or breached.The upper tube opening for outlet structures isgenerally set 12 inches below the earthen spillwaylevel. This keeps water from flowing across theearthen spillway for an extended period oftime, which would otherwise leave it moist and vulnerable to severe erosion during heavyrains. The width of the spillway is determined bya complex set of calculations that takes intoconsideration local rainfall duration and intensity,the slope of the watershed, and the type of groundcover anticipated in the spillway.

Vegetation Establishment Permanent native vegetation should be

planted on the dam, spillway, terraces, water-ways, and other disturbed areas as soon aspossible after construction is completed. Utilizehigher seeding rates in areas prone to erosionduring the filling process and on steep slopes,particularly the front and back sides of the dam.Use a seed mixture of native grass, with emphasison rhizomatous, sod-forming species. Native

grasses produce a rigid, above-ground growththat provides excellent cover for wildlife, as wellas an extensive, deep-reaching, fibrous rootsystem that helps prevent soil erosion. Plantswhich are adapted to the on-site conditions andhave proven wildlife values should be usedwhenever possible. NRCS and CommissionWildlife Division personnel can provide recom-mendations on what and when to plant.

The pond banks should be planted withpermanent vegetation to prevent erosion andprovide an aesthetic setting for fishing and otheractivities. Emergent vegetation, such as cattails,bulrushes, and arrowhead, can be dug up inother ponds in early spring, when new shootsbegin to show, and transplanted into shallow-water areas of your pond. Keep in mind theaggressive nature of these plants, particularlycattails, when considering transplanting theminto your pond. They may spread more than youwant and eventually require control methods.

Establishing a cover crop of wheat, rye, oats,or sorghum, or allowing weeds to grow in thepond basin, is recommended before new pondsfill. This helps to stabilize the soil and keeps thewater clear. When the cover crop and weeds


Hand Seed, and if Possible,Harrow or Rake to Cover Seed

Hand Seed, and if Possible,Harrow or Rake to Cover Seed

PONDBOTTOM

PONDBOTTOM

NRCS and NRD personnel needto be contacted regarding damconstruction, water control structures, and appropriate

emergency spillways for various pond sizes and levels of dam hazard.

See page 40 for additionalinformation on aquatic vegetation establishment.


are flooded, they provide a substrate on whichaquatic organisms can grow. Subsequentdecomposition adds nutrients to the pond andimproves water clarity by facilitating settling ofsuspended soil particles. The ensuing nutrientboost also facilitates initial establishment andexpansion of fish food items (such as zooplankton,phytoplankton, and aquatic insects). New pondsgenerally have an abundance of nutrients so it isquite common for algae to become establishedin the first 2 or 3 years. Eventually, most algae isreplaced naturally by more desirable emergentand submerged vegetation.

The dam should be protected from erosiondue to waves with rock rip-rap or dense grass,such as prairie cordgrass. Trees should not beplanted or allowed to grow on the dam as theirroots can cause water leakage problems, norshould they be planted along the northwestcorner of ponds. Prevailing northwest winterwinds are needed to prevent excessive accumulation of snow on the ice, which cancause winter fish kills.

Other Pond UsesThe intended uses of the pond should be

carefully considered before a pond is designedor the site selected. If you want a fishing pond,and the pond is designed specifically for fishing,it will be easier to manage and maintain andhave greater recreational potential than if itwere designed for an alternate use. Some useswill not be compatible with fish production,while some can be, with proper pond design.

Livestock watering will interfere with fishproduction if no precautions are taken torestrict their access. When livestock are allowedunlimited access to the pond shoreline and/orfeeder stream, they trample the banks, resultingin shoreline erosion and the destruction of fishspawning and nursery areas. This can alsoweaken the dam and spillway, and shorten thelife of the pond. Most importantly, livestock willmuddy the water and increase nutrient inputs,which will prevent the establishment of desirablefish populations.

Ponds less than 5 acres should be fencedwith a 100-foot minimum buffer, including thedam, emergency spillway, entire pond perimeter,and feeder stream, to exclude livestock. Auxiliarywatering techniques can then be used. A pipeinstalled through the dam to a stock tank locatedoutside the fenced area below the dam will provide cattle with clean, quality water, whichcan increase their weight gains. The 2-inchdiameter pipe should extend into the pond and connect with a standpipe that has a top 4 feet lower than the water surface when full.Coarse gravel can be placed in the standpipe to

Watering Livestockfrom a Hydrant

Watering Livestockfrom a Hydrant

Direct Watering of Livestock from PondDirect Watering of

Livestock from Pond



filter the water and prevent fish from entering. Afloat valve can be installed in the stock tank tomaintain a consistent water level.

If a pond or feeder stream has to be usedfor direct watering, both should be fenced tolimit cattle access to small areas. Contact NRCSpersonnel about available buffer and cost-shareprograms regarding buffer establishment, fencing, and auxiliary watering. Keep in mind that prescribed grazing can be used to manage upland and wetland vegetation.Contact Commission wildlife staff for prescribedgrazing information.

Fishing and irrigation are usually not compatible uses, especially if the pond is used asa return catch basin for irrigation runoff water.Using a pond as a source of irrigation waternormally results in widely fluctuating water levels that will hinder fish reproduction andgrowth, and can cause fish kills. A pond can beused as a water source for small irrigation projects, such as gardens or lawns, providedinflows are sufficient to replace the water usedand lost to leakage and evaporation. A permitis needed from the DNR before any water canbe withdrawn from a pond. Ponds can providewater for fire fighting, provided precautionsare taken to prevent fish and vegetation fromplugging up the water intake system.

Flood control ponds designed to retainsediment and high volumes of runoff watergenerally do not make good fishing ponds. Thewater normally remains turbid for extendedperiods of time after runoff events and depositedsediment gradually fills in the pond. Althoughsight-feeding fish like bass and bluegill will dopoorly under turbid conditions, channel catfishcan produce a viable fishery. Catfish successwill depend upon food availability, pond depth,and population density if natural recruitment

(spawned fish survive to adult size) occurs. Ponds less than 5 acres can provide many

hours of fishing, swimming, boating, and otherrecreational activities. Power boating and skiingare not recommended due to the small size ofthese ponds. Wave action will cause shorelineerosion and resuspension of sediment, resultingin turbid water and reduced productivity. If thepond will be used for a variety of recreationalactivities, some safety precautions should betaken. Swimming areas should be marked andall obstacles removed. Have life saving devices,such as ring buoys, rope, and long poles, nearbyto facilitate rescue operations during winterand summer activities. Pond owners shouldcontact their attorneys and insurance agentsabout protection against a lawsuit if an accidentshould occur at their pond.

Permit Requirementsand EnvironmentallySensitive Areas

Whether you are building a new pond or restoring an old one, no permits are required ifthe finished structure has a low hazard dam lessthan 25 feet high, a storage capacity of less than15-acre feet of water at the spillway crest oroverflow, less than 50 acre-feet of total floodstorage capacity at the top of the dam, and nodiversion or withdrawal of water. It is alwaysbest to ask if you are unsure about whether or not you need a permit. Any questions on permitting should be directed to the DNR officein Lincoln. NRCS personnel can also answerquestions about permit requirements. If a permit is required, it must be obtained beforeconstruction can begin; otherwise, the pond is subject to removal, or impounded water may have to be released for downstream water-right holders.


Livestock access to the pondand/or feeder stream has to be restricted to prevent environmental damages.

There are places whereponds should not be built and some places mayrequire special permits.


Regardless of whether a DNR permit isrequired, there are places where ponds shouldnot be built. Construction should be avoided inareas where existing wildlife or habitats areunique or pristine, or where construction wouldnegatively affect watershed functions belowthe pond. Threatened and endangered (T&E)species must be considered before constructionbegins. Usually, there are no concerns forponds constructed on upland sites. Inquiriesabout known locations of T&E species should bedirected to the Commission’s Natural HeritageProgram. If construction will affect a wetland orwaters of the state, a U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers (ACOE) Section 404 Permit will likelybe required. The NRCS must also be contactedif a wet area is being considered for a site. Theymay require a permit, along with special construction considerations. Here again, ask if you are unsure. A Section 404 Permit is also required if habitat materials are added to any waters in the state. Questions can be directed to the ACOE regional offices inOmaha or Kearney. See Appendix A for the list of contacts.

While planning your pond, be sure to checkyour property deed for recorded easements forburied pipelines or power cables, and overheadlines. The restrictions in these easements andtheir locations may affect what you can do andwhere, and possibly change your site choice.Pond construction must not affect a public roador a neighbor’s property.

Technical Assistance(Construction andCost-Share)

An important first step in building a pond is obtaining technical advice on construction thatwill maximize the pond’s fishery potential andlongevity. The primary sources for technicalassistance are the Commission, NRCS, NRD, andUNL Cooperative Extension.

If you need additional information orwould like to discuss any topics in greater

detail, contact the Commission’s district fisheriesmanagement staff in your area or the PrivateWaters Specialist at the Lincoln headquarters.The Commission’s Wildlife Habitat PartnersSection staff can provide information aboutestablishment and management of wildlifehabitat on property surrounding your pond.They can discuss their WILD Nebraska Programand various NRCS buffer programs that providecost share funding for developing or enhancingwildlife habitat.

The local county NRCS office should becontacted regarding site selection, pond designand construction considerations, including whatpermits are required. They have programs thatmay provide cost-share funding for construction,particularly in high priority areas. They alsohave programs that provide cost-share or even payments for establishing buffers and set-aside (CRP) acres. They have a publication, “Ponds - Planning, Design, Construction,” that is very informative.

The NRD’s have cost-share funding for construction, with requests prioritized. SeeAppendix A for a complete list of technicalassistance contacts. There also are private contractors and consultants who can be hired forvarious construction and management services.See Appendix B for a list of those services.Consult the yellow pages in your phone bookor contact a local Commission fisheries biologistor the Private Waters Specialist to obtain a list of names and contact information for contractors and consultants.



Pond Manual Intro & Chapter 1 · water. Any undesirable fish in the pond’s watershed should be...

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Transcript of Pond Manual Intro & Chapter 1 · water. Any undesirable fish in the pond’s watershed should be...