At its simplest, a duck pond (or any other kind of pond) is simply a hole in the ground. However, the nature of that hole will determine how much work you have to do to get your pond going – and the nature of your property inextricably affects the nature of your hole.
We explain in our discussion of farm ponds that “Farm ponds are best located at the lowest points of slopes and along the bottom of natural valleys and gullies. Slopes direct water into the pond to keep it naturally refilled, and capturing this runoff in a man-made structure prevents downhill erosion and damage.”
Plus, ponds that employ embankments are likelier to stay full all year. These collect water behind a dam or levee, which means that water running down slopes will always end up in the pond, giving you more wetland area overall.
This is a classic embankment pond, where you don’t have to do much work to get the water to fill the depression and remain at a high level. If you have a spot like that on your property, then as we discussed in “Location, Location, Location,” you’re golden. Put down a marker flag and call it good.
However, if you don’t have that on your site, never fear. You can also create an excavation pond, which is exactly what it sounds like: you bring in heavy machinery to dig out a hole on your property and pile it up around the sites or spread it across your property. This creates a new hole that you can then line with clay or an impermeable membrane to keep water in.
Many homeowners end up opting for some combination of the two. To wit, they have a spot on their site where they benefit from natural slopes. These will direct rainfall and runoff into the pond and help it stay full all year, but the pond either isn’t deep enough or the slope continues on the other side. That lets the water out, negating the benefits of the slope up above.
If that’s your situation, you can address it by excavating the area to create a lip on whatever side of the pond isn’t high enough. Similarly, if you have a great spot that simply isn’t deep enough, you can hollow out the depression to make room for water.
The soil you remove can be used elsewhere on your site. If you don’t have anywhere to put it, you can try giving it away or contacting a soil recycling center. Many companies will come haul it away for free, since they can sell it to other homeowners or landowners.
All right, you’ve got your spot picked out and a depression created. Before you fill your pond up with water, it’s time to familiarize yourself with the materials you will need.
