Every state and geographical region has its own unique set of challenges that will affect pond construction—and California’s natural conditions are particularly harsh on various liner materials. In some parts of the state, extreme heat and sun exposure are things that will degrade even the toughest of pond liners available today. That’s combined with the fact that this is a drought-prone state. When liners are left exposed, they tend to break down faster. In California, preventing a pond from drying out and exposing the liner often relies on rainfall, but many areas of California, especially SoCal, see very limited amounts of precipitation. In many cases, pond owners need to keep liners covered with sand and gravel to help prevent degradation due to heat and UV exposure—and it’s smart to use a UV resistant RPE liner like those we offer here at BTL Liners.
Aside from the weather, another issue that California pond owners may face is soil composition. Even when using a liner, it’s easiest to build ponds in and around clay soils because these soils are less prone to shifting with time, and they’re also less likely to erode, which is critical when you’re building a pond using dams or embankments. However, in California, loose soils are common—and that can lead to challenges when they shift. You may find that you need to import clay in order to build strong embankments. You’ll also need to make sure that the land on which you’re placing the pond is completely cleared of stumps and organic materials because as these things break down over time, it can lead to voids beneath the pond that will cause shifting soil. This adds to the risk that the liner will stretch with the moving soil and potentially tear.
