Pond Excavation and Construction Tips

The first and most important point to consider is the pond’s depth.  Good pond construction starts with steeper grades and relatively deep excavation.  Now, when considering steepness, this means the grade of the bank under water, not above the waterline.  Above waterline conditions should gently slope toward the pond.  This will aid in controlling erosion along the shoreline.  Many pond owners desire a swimming area.  This area is usually shallow to permit easy access to the water and encourages swimming out from the beach area toward a floating platform.  Such a beach area should be limited in width and should still slope rather quickly to a depth of four feet to limit light penetration and potential algae and weed growth.  Overall depth should be greater than eight feet average and can certainly be deeper. In fact, larger fish prefer deep, cold water and thrive in twenty feet deep ponds. 

Another construction feature to avoid are islands.  Accessibility issues are the main problem with islands as well as another underwater shelf that could promote growth of pond algae and weeds.  There are no real benefits to islands, so consider a floating platform instead.

Underwater growth is often touted as great for fish and aquatic animals.  Unfortunately, most underwater weeds are difficult to contain and could easily get out of control.  Use of underwater structures, such as pieces of drainage tile, large hollow logs, short sections of PVC pipes and chunks of concrete can replace vegetation as cover for fish.  Keep in mind that nearly all game fish are carnivorous (consume fish, insects, etc.) and do not require vegetation for survival in a pond environment.

Finally, be sure to construct good drainage points from your pond.  Lack of constructed drainage areas can lead to flooding, overflowing and severe erosion around your pond.

All in all, follow these simple points on pond construction and your pond will be a peaceful, enjoyable body of water that will require simple maintenance in order to keep it clean.  Contact the experts and Sanco for more information on pond maintenance.