Depth is an important consideration when designing your farm pond. Choosing the right depth means considering what you plan to do with the pond. Because ponds are often used for irrigation or to water animals, the first thing you’ll need to determine is the water needs for crops or animals. Factor that number against acre-feet, which measures how many gallons of water in a one-acre pond for each foot of depth. One acre-foot holds 325,851 gallons.
Once you have your irrigation needs worked out, consider other factors, like available space and whether you want to stock the pond with fish or aquatic plants. In more compact spaces, the pond may need to be deeper so that you can ensure you have enough water for irrigation. If you plan to stock the pond with fish, then at least half of it should be six feet deep—though warm water species like bass and panfish prefer depths around 10 to 15 feet with shallower areas where they can forage.
