Pond Contruction

It's been a while since I've posted.
But I've been looking into buying 200 acres of land here on my state of Mississippi. I plan on building a cabin there. I'm buying the land for mostly hunting, but also as a bug out location also. The property have plenty of wildlife and good soil for planting. But the lack of a easy water supply isn't as so. There is a small creek on the far side of the property. I'm really looking into building a small pond. Perhaps 1 or 2 acre. Stocked with fish for fun family trips and for survival in an situation. I've researched online about constructing your own pond but only found old folk stories or boring article. I want some basic plans, layouts, basic depth, ect. I know in most regions clay must be used to dam a pond to prevent leaking but here in MS it isn't much an issue. I'm just looking for some further knowledge.

You are in luck !!!

Mississippi State University has one of the leading centers on research in pond construction due to the huge catfish farming industry in your state.

If you purchase the land I am sure you could contact them and get an evaluation and possibly some engineering assistance due to the huge need of graduate students for practicum and thesis work to obtain their degrees.

They also have a wealth of built up knowledge you can tap into at the university.

You can also contact you local agriculture extension agent for advice.

These people view ponds as a part of the farming and agribusiness system.

My luck I'd get the one engineering student that fails the class.

"Dude, you were building a pond."
"Yeah."
"It's upside down!"
"Oh, snap!"

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/69261388.jpg

What did the pyramid guy say.........in that ad?......
Oh, oh.......

To get you back on track your Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks can help you as well. They should also be able to advise you on tree planting for little cost as well as stocking the pond.

https://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boatin...ssistance.aspx

Thanks. My main concerns are the depth it should do for maximum fish growth. If I should add structures and where. I mean I know everyone down here will throw their old Christmas trees in their pond in Janurary for fish attractants but you'd always get your line hung up. I'm thinking of makin one from PVC.

Again, check with the pros. The MSU folks really do have this sorted out with no guesswork left. You can wonder and hope and guess all day when a simple phone call might solve the problem.

I read that there is a trend to deeper ponds in your area in an attempt to sustain better fish growth and pond life.

All I know about ponds is the experience i have had with mine. Around here they line the ponds with clay, ( if clay doesn't already exist for the full depth of the pond ) in order to keep the pond from leaking, and it makes the water almost crystal clear. Now if you would have to haul clay in for your pond you may want to look ay pond liners, may be cheaper than hauling in clay!
My pond is 20 foot deep in the far end and the fish have survived some really cold winters here in Ohio. During the summer and winter I aireate the pond with pump and an aireator unit on the bottom of the pond which helps dissolve sludge and keep the fish healthy. Aireators are ery expensive but so far seems to be worth it. In the winter when the pond freezes over the aireator keeps a hole thawed out and keeps the water aireated blow the ice that prevent winter fish kills.
This is just what I know, so like everybody else says, get information from your local resourses!


http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps4edaebed.png

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps2b273708.png

Very cool, WT.....Thanks for posting.

That's a nice set up. I doubt I'll be having crystal clear water here in the swamps of Mississippi. Clay isn't an issue. I've talked to some guys that have constructed their own ponds and they said clay is in the soil throughout the state. I've called MSU and talked to a engineer there and also a man I served with in the Army is a levee engineer with the Army Corp of Engineers and he is meeting me at the spot and is going to show me what I should do with the terrain I have.

One year ago we dug out our new pond and after that year we have fish in it, frogs, salamanders etc. And every day we have visitors like ducks and geese...

Attachment 10488

Attachment 10489

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Attachment 10491

Winter and very high water level..

Attachment 10512

xjosh40x tell us how your pond project is coming along. kyratshooter's advice is very good IMO. Most states have very good assistance in pond construction if you do it yourself, but there are also contractors that will do either part or all of the construction and management for you.

A German colleague of mine noticed all the ponds when he flew in for a joint project (photonics not agriculture). He asked me what they were for. I laughed and said "In Texas we call those tanks not ponds."

http://www.texasmonthly.com/content/...mer-stock-tank

A favorite place to hunt deer, turkey, feral hogs, and waterfowl.

Catfish if it don't dry out during the drought.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xjosh40x

But I've been looking into buying 200 acres of land here on my state of Mississippi. I plan on building a cabin there. I'm buying the land for mostly hunting, but also as a bug out location also..............

---

In Texas this statement is called "Fixin' on it"
No conformation of actual purchase, just a "If I do this, what do I need to know".......A good way to start a project.

@H63 Since it had been a few months since he had been "fixin' to" purchase some acreage and get a plan and cost estimate on a stock tank construction I thought he might have something fun to report. So many yankees are moving in down here and turning ranch land into suburbia that the Texas twang is fix in's to ride off into the sunset, along with all common sense.

http://www.npr.org/2012/12/05/166571...heart-of-texas

A good example of Texas accent from LBJ with some great descriptive language ordering pants for outdoor activities:
http://youtu.be/S3GT9UN7nDo

I.e. contractors and people who have ponds and professionals at university can tell you what to avoid when purchasing land in the area/region that you are interested in, both legal and geological.

I sure that any and all advice is welcome to the OP.......I was kinda waiting for an up date as well.
Took us many years for our "Place" to come to fruition as well ....and we are still fixin' on it.

Pond is coming in nice. I in the process of building a pier and my over flow system. I'll upload pictures next time I go out there.

being your land will the DNR have any say so or acess to your pond to regulate it in any way?
just something to think about.

No. Mississippi has very little regs on how you manage your property. I mean if my pond was overflowing or flooding someone else's property then that will be a problem. But I think I've though of a great overflow system for it. I've ran two lines of 12" PVC 130 yards to a natural creek. That way the water goes back to a natural flow, it won't cause any erosion and any wildlife that goes through the system will live.

Y'all may have seen this before.......but any mention of Dam construction for ponds and such should enjoy this.....

STATE OF MICHIGAN
Reply to: Grand Rapids District Office
State Office Building, 6th Floor,
350 Ottawa NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2341
John Engler, Governor
Department of Environmental Quality,
Hollister Building,
PO Box 30473,
Lansing MI 48909-7973
Russell J. Harding, Director
December 17, 1997
Mr. Ryan DeVries
2088 Dagget
Pierson, MI 49339

Dear Mr. DeVries:
SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023-1 T11N, R10W, Sec. 20, Montcalm County
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.
A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files show that no permits have been issued.
Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301,. Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated.
The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially, failed during a recent rain event, causing debris dams and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all unauthorized activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the strewn channel.
All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 1998. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request, or any further unauthorized activity on the site, may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter.
Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
David L. Price
District Representative
Land and Water Management Division


- Reply Letter -
Dear Mr. Price:
Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N, R10W, Sec 20; Montcalm County:

Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me to respond to.
You sent out a great deal of carbon copies to a lot of people, but you neglected to include their addresses. You will, therefore, have to send them a copy of my response.
First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, nor authorize their dam project, I think they would be highly offended you call their skillful use of natural building materials "debris." I would like to challenge you to attempt to emulate their dam project any dam time and/or any dam place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no dam way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.
As to your dam request the beavers first must fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity, my first dam question to you is: are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or do you require all dam beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, please send me completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated. My first concern is - aren't the dam beavers entitled to dam legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said dam representation - so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer.
The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing dam flooding is proof we should leave the dam Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the dam stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition - contact the dam beavers - but if you are going to arrest them (they obviously did not pay any dam attention to your dam letter - being unable to read English) - be sure you read them their dam Miranda rights first.
As for me, I am not going to cause more dam flooding or dam debris jams by interfering with these dam builders. If you want to hurt these dam beavers - be aware I am sending a copy of your dam letter and this response to PETA.
If your dam Department seriously finds all dams of this nature inherently hazardous and truly will not permit their existence in this dam State - I seriously hope you are not selectively enforcing this dam policy - or once again both I and the Spring Pond Beavers will scream prejudice! In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their dam unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I to live and enjoy Spring Pond. So, as far as I and the beavers are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more dam elevated enforcement action now. Why wait until 1/31/98? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then, and there will be no dam way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.
In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality (health) problem; bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the dam beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!)
Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.
Sincerely,
Stephen L.Tvedten
cc: PETA

Yep. I get a chuckle whenever I read that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xjosh40x

Pond is coming in nice. I in the process of building a pier and my over flow system. I'll upload pictures next time I go out there.

---

Sounds great, hope those dam beavers don't move in and chew down all your trees, LOL. Mostly ponds are great for all the wildlife. Beaver tail soup is delicious. Years ago a friend in East Texas had a small pond just behind his house full of channel catfish. When I stopped by for supper we would catch a few, fillet them with an electric knife on the pier, then throw out some feed pellets and watch them go crazy for it, catfish entrails and all. Good times, fresh fried catfish is unbeatable. Even better than nutria shish kabobs.

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