Planning

Introduction   |    Planning   |   Construction   |   Stocking

When planning to construct a farm pond, site selection is extremely important. Consider the following site characteristics before you design and construct your pond: (1) topography, (2) water supply, and (3) soil type. If possible, consider more than one location and study each one to select the most practical, aesthetic, and economical site. Click here to view the layout of a typical farm pond. In addition to the information provided here, your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office is available to assist in site selection, determining soil suitability, getting an engineering survey, and designing at no cost to the landowner. The personnel at these offices can provide an estimate of the cost of the earth work, quality control checks during construction, and information on other aspects of planning, design, and construction.

While you are in the planning stage, remember to contact a licensed game fish hatchery! Consult MDWFP's list of licensed game fish hatcheries in Mississippi and begin to plan your initial fish stocking.

Many things must be taken into consideration when building a farm pond. If you follow the steps outlined in this website, you should have a successful farm pond that will provide you with hours of recreational enjoyment and will be a productive source of fish.

Important: Mississippi law now requires that all landowners constructing an impoundment capable of holding 25 acre feet of water file an application with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality before constructing a dam. There is no fee required, but there are penalties for failure to file. Most properly constructed ponds greater than five surface acres will require this permit. Please consult your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office to obtain application form BLWR-PDC81.

1. Topography

When planning a farm pond, consider topography first because it directly affects construction costs and management. Locate the pond where an adequate volume of water can be impounded with the least amount of earthfill. A good site is usually one where dam construction can be oriented across a narrow section of a steep valley, and where the slope of the valley floor permits a large area to be flooded. Such sites are ideal and minimize areas of shallow water. Avoid creating large areas of shallow water because they become too shallow for use during dry periods in late summer and fall; shallow water also encourages the growth of undesirable aquatic plants. If possible, avoid locations with constantly flowing creeks or streams.

Click here for a printable version of this publication: Managing Mississippi Farm Ponds and Small Lakes

2. Water Supply

Water should be adequate, but not excessive, and may be provided by springs, wells, or surface runoff. For ponds where surface runoff is the main source of water, the contributing drainage area or watershed should be large [Photo]: Stream with riprapenough to maintain a suitable water level during dry periods. However, the drainage area should not be so large that expensive overflow structures are needed and water exchange occurs too frequently. Necessary watershed area depends on land use, vegetative cover, soil type, and the slope of the land. As a rule, a pond should have 5 to 10 acres of drainage area for each acre of impounded water in pastured watersheds and 10 to 20 acres of drainage area for woodland watersheds.

Sites on constantly flowing streams or those with excessive watershed-to-pond ratios should maintain a diversion ditch to allow for the control of flow through the pond making fertilization practical and the invasion of undesirable fish species more difficult. When using runoff as a source of water, it is important to consider the effects of the land uses within the watershed. Agricultural runoff may contain a high sediment load which can cause high turbidity (murkiness). Chemicals in cropland runoff can be toxic and fertilizers may cause algal blooms which may induce fish kills

Although wells can provide heightened water quality, they are expensive to drill and can be cost prohibitive. Low cost, low risk of disease and pollution, and constancy of both temperature and flow make springs a highly desirable water source. However, such water sources may contain gases which are undesirable.

Before constructing your pond be sure to have potential water sources tested. Water samples can be sent to the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory. Explanation of pond water quality parameters can be found on the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service web page.

Note that much of this information is available in hardcopy format on our Fisheries Publications Page

3. Soil Type

Soil suitability is one of the primary factors in selecting a pond site. The soil should contain a layer of material that water will not seep through. Clays and silty clays are excellent for this purpose. Sandy clays are also usually satisfactory. To determine soil suitability, take soil borings at frequent intervals and have them analyzed. Your local Natural Resources Conservation Service can assist in this evaluation. Failure to evaluate hidden soil strata properly could result in a pond that will not hold water.

Your Extension county agent can advise you on how to collect soil samples for analysis to determine the lime requirements (of the pond bottom) for the site you have selected. A minimal fee is charged by the State Soil Testing Lab , Box 9610, Mississippi State, MS 39762 (the laboratory can be contacted by phone at 662-325-3313) for this analysis.