The vast majority of farm ponds are 10 acres in size or less. This is because even a farm covering hundreds or thousands of contiguous acres rarely has the runoff or wetland supply to fill a pond larger than that. If you’d like more than 10 acres of total pond size to work with for irrigation or fish farming plans, consider multiple smaller ponds so they remain easier to design, build, and maintain than a single oversized body of water.
Before you start scouting locations on your property or calculating the number of gallons you need, determine how many permits and permissions you’ll need for the pond. Some parts of the country make it harder than others to make a new pond, even a small one on your own property. You don’t want to go through the work of designing the perfect pond only to discover it’s impossible to get permitted or will cost too much for your budget.
Farm ponds generally require permissions from federal, state, and local planning bodies. The United States Army Corps of Engineers must approve plans for all recreational ponds, but they allow exemptions for ponds with at least one valid agricultural use. You must still file for this exemption through a similar process as you would for a permit through the Corps. The Natural Resources Conservation Service, a branch of the USDA, is another federal agency that must issue a permit for your pond. They organize multiple offices in every state and will visit your property to help you with the process of locating and designing a pond that fulfills their requirements.
Check in with your state’s Department for Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, or Environmental Management agency. These organizations regulate ponds, including those on farms, in all 50 states. They also tend to offer assistance with the federal and local parts of permitting as well. Finally, check in with your country’s zoning and code enforcement office. Even rural counties with relatively few land use limitations still tend to require approval and permits for ponds since they can flood and damage a neighbor’s property if built without oversight.
