LAKE & POND PLANNING GUIDE
Please feel free to print this guide to help you know what to ask and how to answer questions we may ask you when you contact us.
Planning your lake or pond is the first step toward having a successful and healthy lake or pond. Below are some questions to help you in this first and most important step.
Ponds or lakes in your area.
Talking to your neighbors who already have a lake or pond is a good way to get a lot of information. Below are some questions to ask those around you that have beautiful and healthy ponds that they enjoy all year.
1. How much does your water level vary throughout the year?
2. Was good clay material found on your property site?
3. Did you have to use a plastic liner, have clay or Bentonite brought in?
4. How far down was the good material found?
5. How deep is the pond?
6. How much do you lose to evaporation ?
7. What is the average rainfall for the area?
General information to provide.
1. Do you have a photo of your a current water site on the property, a stream or your potiential site?
2. Where is your property located? How many acres is the property? What size water site would you like to have?
3. Do you have the elevation, a TOPO map or GPS coordinates for the property?
4. What sort of soil do you have? Is it rocky, clay type, sand, etc..?
5. Is the land flat or sloped? How steep? What aspect does it face?
6. What do you have for a water source? Water well, springs, creek, rain, etc..?
7. If your water source is a spring or a creek, what volume does it produce in summer and winter?
8. Will a stream flow directly into your water site or is the water diverted from a stream?
9. What shape of lake or pond would you like?
10. Do you want a swimming lake, fishing lake or general recreational lake?
11. Do you want to attract wildlife?
12. Are there many old/big trees where you want the lake to be?
13. What type of amenities are you planning? A dock, pathway, island, etc...
What is your dream or vision when the water site is complete?
This is fun part for the land owner. You get to tell what us what YOU want! The answer to the questions above tell us what is possible, but don't let that stop you from telling us exactly what your vision is. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience that we can draw from to help you create the water site you dream of.
Below are some of the goals we have helped other to attain. Remember that there may be trade offs, so prioritize your goals for the best results.
* I want my property value to rise significantly.
* I want trophy size fish.
* I want the kids to have a clean place to swim.
* I want a nice beach around my pond.
* I want a small pond in my yard.
* I want a lake or pond that is easy to maintain.
* I want to be able to control the water level.
* I do/do not want livestock to use my pond.
* I want to be able to land a float plane on my lake.
* I want to buy land, build a lake or pond and make a profit when I sell it.
* I want my water site to last for many generations.
* I want to build a private refuge for a sensitive species or strain of fish.
* I want to keep as many of my trees as I can.
How much effort/and cost do I want to put into my water site.
This is always a question that needs to carefully considered. Any site can be made to hold water depending on what you are willing to invest. Plan as much as you can and call us to help your dream come true.