Water restrictions have been in place for decades in most of California, just like the rest of the Western states. Long-term droughts make it essential to prioritize water for human and agricultural use first and all other uses secondarily. This means that putting in a new pond for any use, whether it is a small backyard water feature or a full-sized recreational lake, is subject to approval by one of the 9 water boards in the state. Drought restrictions limit the amount of water that can be diverted to fill a pond or tank, so it’s necessary to size any future pond based on these figures. It also proves the importance of impermeable liners, to keep every gallon of water in place, so it’s not lost to the environment through seepage.
The Three Main Uses: Domestic, Irrigation, Livestock
Most small-scale ponds in California are permitted by the local water board based on one of three main uses:
- Domestic, which includes decorative and recreational ponds for homes and small businesses like campgrounds, hotels, and resorts.
- Irrigation, which are primarily ponds intended for irrigating lawns, gardens, and crop fields.
- Livestock, which supply drinking water for farms with livestock, whether they’re in barns or out in open fields.
All other uses common to California ponds, such as fire protection and recreation, tend to fall under the general Domestic use provision. The water boards will typically allow for most types of ponds as long as they are under the general size requirements, which are 10 acre-feet of impoundment per year for domestic and livestock ponds and 20 acre-feet for irrigation ponds. An acre-foot is the amount of water it takes to cover one acre of ground to the depth of one foot. If you want a 10-foot-deep pond for fish or swimming, you’ll be able to cover less than an acre in surface area to compensate for water loss over the year. Do not expect to build a multi-acre pond unless it will be very shallow, or you will be able to get special permission from the relevant water board.
Large Ponds and Lakes
All of the permits described above only apply to the small ponds and waterways, which are limited by the amounts previously outlined. Larger ponds and lakes are handled on a case-by-case basis by the California water board overseeing the area. An environmental survey to identify the entire impact of the water diversion required to fill the pond or lake is usually necessary. The permitting process for larger ponds and lakes can take years and may add thousands of dollars to the construction cost of the project, so make sure it is worth the extra effort to go over the size limit for small ponds on private property.
Diversion Restrictions and Water Doctrine
It is not enough to consider just the volume of water you need for a specific size of pond. Where will the water come from, and how could that affect any downstream neighbors you have? Each water board determines its own restrictions on diversion rules, based on the water doctrine of the Western states. Unlike Eastern states where water tends to be abundant at the surface, California and the surrounding states all aim to protect landowners further downstream that might lose supply from upstream damming or pond building. Even surface runoff and rainfall gathered on your land is subject to diversion restrictions, not to mention any streams, creeks, or springs that pass through your property or originate on it.
Making the Most of a Limited Supply
With a limited amount of water available to divert into a pond each year, California property owners must make the most of every gallon by reducing water loss. Seepage results in a major loss of water in any pond that’s built without a relatively impermeable liner. Clay and other natural products aren’t enough. Only a geomembrane rated with low permeability can really keep pond water where it’s needed; especially in sandy or loose soils that are common around the state of California. Ponds in Southern California in particular already tend to lose a lot of water to evaporation from the heat and wind, so lining them to control seepage is often the only way to keep them from drying up during the longest periods of drought.
BTL Liners has the geomembrane liners to keep California ponds from losing valuable water. No matter the underlying soil conditions or the size restrictions set by the local water board, there’s a liner product available for your California pond building project. Contact our team today to get customized recommendations based on your plans for the pond, its size, your specific area, and more.
