There is little doubt that ponds are popular additions to landscapes nowadays, and it is easy to see why. Ponds can bring the landowner a wealth of benefits such as recreation, habitat for wildlife, water for irrigation, a site for water gardening, to name just a few.
While the Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District is available to help you, it is recommended that you take the time to study the following web site. It will address many of the questions that most landowners have as they get started in the investigative and planning process:
The district also has a comprehensive CD that is available that provides extensive information on the planning, permitting and building processes associated with ponds.
Know What Challenges Are Ahead
While ponds are popular, building them is a complex, time-consuming effort. When deciding whether to build a pond there are three major factors to consider – feasibility, costs and permits.
Feasibility
There are a number of considerations to take into account when it comes to whether the siting of your pond will be appropriate. They are:
Topographic efficiency of the site – steep sloping sites are the least efficient regarding a pond’s cost/benefit ration
Suitability and availability of soil construction materials and geology of the foundation Hazards to downstream structures
Hydrology – source and quality of water to fill pond and volume of stored water to address intended beneficial uses
Costs
The cost of constructing a pond on your land will depend on many different factors. The total costs will include:
Earthmoving costs
Cost of any hardware needed (pipes, concrete, drains, etc.)
Cost of permits
Costs of any consultant or engineer hired
Vegetation costs (both labor and material)
Permits
In order to ensure the safety and health of humans, livestock, and the environment you will need certain permits and approvals before you begin excavating a pond. Do not begin construction until you have received the proper permits!
Here’s a list of some of the permits and approvals that may be needed. Depending on its type, size, location and purpose it will take at least one year and probably two years to obtain all designs and permits to construct your pond.
Permit for floodplain alteration. Contact your local planning department.
Permit to use water (water right) and to construct a reservoir. Contact your local
watermaster or the Oregon Water Resources Department at 503-378-8455.
Permit to fill or remove over 50 cubic yards in wetlands, streams, or other state waters. Contact the Oregon Department of State Lands at 503-378-3805 and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 503-808-4373.
Dam safety review. A registered engineer is required to design reservoirs with a dam over 10 feet tall (from natural ground to top of dam) and storage over 9.2 acre-feet. Contact the Oregon Water Resources Department at 503-378-8455.
Water Quality Certification.Projects that require Removal-Fill Permits will need to be certified by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality at 503-229-5279.
Federal, state, and local agencies may require other permits. This is especially true if there are sensitive fish, wildlife, or plants that may be affected.
While all this talk about costs and permits may be daunting at first, rest assured that by following a step by step process, building a pond is a realistic goal. And the results are truly worth it!
