Seus Land Exchange Inc.

Landowners are constantly looking for ways to improve their properties, and it depends on the individual landowner whether the increase in value is measured in dollars or enjoyment. Building a pond is one investment that can increase both the recreational and economic value of a property. Ponds add several benefits. They increase recreational opportunities through fishing, hunting, and swimming. Ponds promote wildlife diversity by attracting several types of waterfowl while also adding various reptiles (which can be good or bad depending on the landowner). Ponds also provide agricultural users with valuable water for crops and livestock. Ponds located near homes or cabins can help with fire suppression which can be a major benefit in some of the more rural parts of the state. And, last but not least, ponds add to the overall aesthetics of a property.
However, like any other management activity landowners need to have a plan in place to ensure that their pond is built correctly in order to meet their desired needs and objectives. Building a pond requires a considerable investment of time and money, and many of Georgia’s landowners are not quite sure of where to start. While there are numerous publications on pond building and management, the purpose of this article is to provide landowners with a general guide for pond building and to direct them on where to go to get additional help and information.
There are several steps landowners must consider when building a pond such as site selection, obtaining a permit, construction, and management. These steps require a landowner to interact with different resource managers and contractors.
Much consideration should go into deciding where to locate a pond on your property. Proper site selection will save a landowner valuable time and money. Several factors should be considered when selecting the pond site - water source, soils, topography, and surrounding land use all will affect the type and size of pond you can build. In Georgia, ponds receive their water from either streams or from surface runoff from the surrounding watershed. It is important that the source should be adequate enough to fill and maintain the desired water level. Ponds should be placed on soils that have a clay content of at least 20 percent. Fine textured clays and silty clays will hold water better and prevent leakage as opposed to the more course textured sandy soils. The topography surrounding the site should be studied to see where to best locate a dam. Dams should be placed as to minimize construction cost while still allowing for the desired pond size. Finally, landowners should take note of the land use in the pond’s watershed. Is the watershed comprised mostly of forestland or pasture and does it contain a sizeable livestock operation? The surrounding land use will have a big impact on the quantity and quality of water that enters the pond.
Once you have selected your pond site, go to your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office to obtain your permit. The NRCS will assist you in determining the type of permit is required and provide you with the appropriate forms for each type.
The majority of ponds constructed on private lands in Georgia will fall under one of two permit types, agricultural farm ponds or recreational ponds.
Agricultural Farm Pond – The primary use of the pond is for the irrigation of crops or for watering for livestock operations. To be eligible for this permit, the applicant must be an agricultural producer who is actively engaged in agricultural or livestock production. These ponds are designed and constructed to meet the required water demand for the desired crop or livestock. Farm ponds 10 acres or less can be approved by the NRCS while ponds larger than 10 acres must be approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Recreational Pond – The primary purpose of the pond is for recreation and personal enjoyment. These ponds are for landowners whose property is not engaged in agricultural activity such as row cropping, tree nurseries, or livestock production. Recreational ponds must be less than five acres and must be approved by the USACE. The majority of ponds built on properties that are primarily timberland will fall under this permit.
The NRCS can also aid landowners by inspecting the pond site to ensure that the pond is well located and that the pond will have minimal impacts on streams and wetlands. It is important to note that pond construction on and around streams and wetlands may require the landowner to mitigate the impacted areas. This simply means that the landowner will have to buy mitigation credits in order to build a pond in these areas. Mitigation credits and costs can vary greatly depending on the site and geographic location.
After these steps have been completed, the pond’s layout and construction can begin. In order to protect your investment, I recommend that the landowner receive professional assistance with the design and construction phases. Qualified professionals will ensure that the pond is built correctly and will minimize any future headaches and costs associated with poor construction. The NRCS office can supply you with a contact list for qualified professionals in your area.
The layout of the pond, especially recreational ponds, should take advantage the surrounding landscape features. When clearing try to minimize the removal of trees along the pond’s edges, and try to make the cleared edges irregular as opposed to straight lines. A pond with nooks and edges is more aesthetically pleasing than a rectangular shaped pond.
Construction of the dam and installation of the water control devices are most often the costliest steps in the pond’s construction. Proper dam construction is essential for maintaining a pond. The dam should be constructed so as to prevent leakage and hold enough water to fill the pond. The soil used to construct the dam should be comprised primarily of clay soils and well compacted. Compaction of the soil will preventing water from seeping through the dam. Drain pipes and siphons are two types of water control devices commonly used to prevent water from over topping the dam in the event of heavy rains. Both systems work well to remove excess water from the pond, however a siphon system has some advantages because it is cheaper to install and easier to maintain. Some ponds also require the installation of a natural spillway, which serves as an additional overflow for excesses water in the event of a severe rain storm. It is important that all water control devices be it a drain pipe, siphon, or natural spillway be properly maintained. Once completed the dam should be grassed as soon as possible to prevent erosion which will weaken the dam.
Finally once the pond has filled with water, landowners can turn their sights toward pond management activities. The first activity many landowners will consider is stocking their pond with desired fish species. While a pond can sustain various stocking numbers and species of fish, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends the following per acre numbers and species for the initial stocking; 400 bluegill, 100 red eared sunfish “shell crackers”, 50 largemouth bass and an optional 50 channel catfish.
The Bluegill, shell-crackers, and channel catfish need to be stocked in the fall or early winter while the bass are added in May or June. The bass stocking is delayed so that the other species will have time to grow, which cuts down on predation from the bass. Applications for obtaining fish from the state are available at all Wildlife Resource Division offices or online at the DNR website. The DNR suggest that you submit applications in the late summer or early fall and applications received after December 31 will be filled the following fall.
Many landowners, especially us hardcore fishermen and women, may want to consider adding fertilizer and lime to their pond. A properly implemented fertilizer/liming program can increase the carrying capacity of a pond from 100 lbs to 300 lbs of fish per acre. But before you start adding fertilizer to a pond, I recommend that you seek the services of a professional pond manager. A pond manager will help you establish your objectives for the pond and create a plan that achieves them. You can find a list of pond managers on the GA DNR’s website.
In closing nobody said that building and maintaining a pond would be easy but like many of our grandfathers told us “anything worth doing is worth doing right” holds as true for pond construction as for many of life’s scenarios. Once your pond is complete and a fish is on the line you can take comfort in the fact that you have created an investment that you, your family, friends, and the local wildlife can enjoy. Now just where did I place my fishing pole?
Remember to do your research before undertaking your pond building project. For additional information, stop by your local NRCS office and pick up a copy of the USDA’s Agriculture Handbook Number 590; “Ponds – Planning, Design, and Construction”.

By: Jesse Johnson, Southern Land Exchange

Jesse is a licensed real estate agent with Southern Land Exchange and a registered forester. Please visit our website, http://www.southernlandexchange.com/ for more information on Jesse.