Aside from decorative backyard ponds, new irrigation and livestock ponds account for the majority of the new water features put in each year in California. The various water boards of the state have separate rules for irrigation ponds than other small domestic ponds, since they are usually used for important agricultural work within the state. Yet, there are still plenty of geographical limits on where streams and creeks can be diverted to fill features like irrigation ponds. It is very likely that even agricultural and livestock ponds will end up relying on on-site well pumping, rooftop water collection, and rainwater alone to keep them filled. Make sure you understand the restrictions on these ponds in California and what liners to use to keep them from losing valuable water during historic periods of drought.
Finding a Source of Water
When it comes to diverting an existing source of water, like a creek or stream, irrigation ponds do have the best chance of earning this right. However, they are generally only available “in coastal stream watersheds from the Mattole River to San Francisco and coastal stream watersheds entering northern San Pablo Bay” according to the state water board. This means that many other irrigation ponds for more limited use will only qualify as smaller domestic ponds with a limit of 10 acre-feet instead. If it is possible to find a steady source of water, it is much easier to actually store the 20 acre-feet per year allowed for irrigation ponds.
Choosing a Safe Liner
As with aquaculture, it is important to consider what is in the liner before using it for a livestock or irrigation pond. Heavy metals, plasticizers, and other chemicals leaching out of the liner can contaminate the water supply and end up causing issues further down the road after products are harvested and delivered to market. If end product testing from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) traces a problem upstream to your raw materials, you may find out your animals or crops are being exposed to unknown contaminants from the pond liner. Using a fish-safe, plant-safe, or even a potable water liner is the best way to ensure the water supply stays clean and safe at all stages. Irrigation ponds, in particular, can hold water for seasons at a time. So, long-term exposure can become an issue unless the liner is specifically safe for plants.
Size Limitations
Irrigation and livestock ponds in California have two very different sets of size restrictions. While some farm ponds are intended for both purposes, the pond must be primarily used for irrigation to qualify for the larger 20 acre-feet per year allowance of water diversion. For ponds only intended for livestock use, the limit is half that; 10 acre-feet per year. Many farms plant crops they feed back to the livestock in order to qualify for a larger irrigation allowance to cover their needs for the entire farm. Talk to your local water board to find out how recent droughts are affecting the construction of new ponds since it is always possible short-term size limitations are in effect to protect the watershed.
Preventing Environmental Exposure
Not all farm ponds in California are built with irrigation or livestock watering in mind. Some ponds are retention or detention features instead and should be built downhill or downstream from processing areas, feedlots, barns, pastures, crop fields, and any other areas with high nutrient loads or other runoff. Even silt, from exposed dirt in the fields, can be captured in properly placed ponds that receive occasional dredging. These ponds should definitely be lined since the fertilizer and other nutrients they capture can escape into the groundwater through the long-term effect of seepage. An impermeable, flexible, liner material is the best way to protect wells and other water features on the farm that might be cross-contaminated by an unsealed catchment basin. This is especially true for lagoons used for manure storage and ponds used to capture runoff from manure piles.
No farm in California is complete without some kind of small pond. From irrigation ponds to keep crops green during drought to catchment areas for runoff from fields, there are plenty of opportunities to keep more water on the farm. These ponds can also make the most of wells that resist running dry, but only during certain parts of the year. Whatever the type of pond you need to add to your farm, BTL Liners can help. We have the plant-safe and potable water approved liners to keep your crops and animals thriving with a steady, fresh, water supply.
Conclusion
California ponds may be similar to small ponds built anywhere else in the country, but they do require a few adjustments to accommodate the unique conditions of the state. From the sandy soil found in many regions to the harsh weather conditions, California is not the easiest place to build new ponds. Yet despite the restrictions on water use, ponds can enrich the environment and add value to any property. Just make sure to use a reliable liner product from BTL Liners to ensure seepage and leaks aren’t a problem from the very beginning.
