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| <img src="../../../images/check.gif" alt="" /> Leaking Ponds | <a href="wildlife.html">Wildlife</a> </p> <div class="line"></div> <img src="../../../images/griffins.jpg" alt="Leaking Pond" class="img_right_shade" /> <h2>Leaking Ponds</h2> <ul> <li>Page 1 - Leaking Ponds</li> <li><a href="leak1.html">Page 2 - Compaction</a></li> <li><a href="leak2.html">Page 3 - Clay Blankets</a></li> <li><a href="leak3.html">Page 4 - Bentonite</a></li> <li><a href="leak4.html">Page 5 - Chemical Additives</a></li> <li><a href="leak5.html">Page 6 - Waterproofed Linings</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2183.htm">Click here for a printable version of this publication: Sealing Leaking Ponds</a></p> <div class="line"></div> <p>Excessive seepage in ponds is generally due either to a poor site--that is, one in which the soils in the impounded area are too permeable to hold water--to improperly constructed levees or dams, or to physical damage caused by tree roots, burrowing rodents, or other factors. Selecting a poor site is often the result of inadequate preliminary site investigations and is, therefore, an avoidable situation. You can avoid improper construction just as you can avoid the establishment of trees and shrubs that develop root systems that undermine the dam.</p> <p>In places where a satisfactory site is not available, the need for water may be sufficient to justify using the site. If so, the original pond design must include plans for reducing seepage by sealing the pond bottom. In some places, excessive removal of topsoil during construction, usually to provide material for the embankment, exposes highly pervious materials such as sand, gravel, or rock containing cracks, crevices, or channels. This is usually avoided by carefully selecting the source of embankment material.</p> <p>To prevent excessive seepage, reduce the permeability of the soil to a point at which losses are insignificant or at least tolerable. The method depends largely on the proportions of coarse-grained sand and gravel and of fine-grained clay and silt in the soil.</p> <p>Whatever the reason your pond loses water, it is important to remember two major considerations. <strong>First, once the pond is constructed, correcting these problems can be costly!</strong> Second, if the seep or leak is confined to a small area, you are much more likely to be successful in solving the problem by using compaction, clay blankets, bentonite, chemical additives, or waterproofed linings. </p> <p>In most cases, you can avoid leaking ponds by wise site selection and proper maintenance. In some instances, however, leaks and seeps can develop. If the leak or seep is severe, correction is warranted, and usually will be costly.</p> <p>It is a good idea to prevent trees and shrubs from becoming established on levees and dams. Take action to remove burrowing animals such as muskrats and beavers and nutria as soon as you notice them. If maintenance activity does fail, however, one of the corrective measures described in this publication might prove useful.</p> <div class="line"></div> <p style="float:right;"><a href="leak1.html">Next Page - <em>Compaction</em></a> <img src="../../../images/arrow_over.gif" alt="" style="margin-bottom:-1px;" /></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <script type="text/javascript"> function cl() { var url = "/cgi-bin/mailer.cgi"; var opts = "toolbar=no,status=no,location=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,height=600,width=800,scrollbars=yes"; msgbox = window.open("", "MsgBox", opts); msgbox.focus(); msgbox.location = url; } </SCRIPT> <img src="/images/blackline.jpg" width="640" height="6" alt="A black line that separates the body text from footer information"> <div align="center"> <br><a href="http://www.msstate.edu"><img src="/images/maroonlogo2.gif" name="MSUlogo" alt="Mississippi State University logo" border="0"></a> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-2"><br> Visit: <a href="http://www.dafvm.msstate.edu">DAFVM</a> <font color="#660000">||</font> <a href="http://www.csrees.usda.gov">USDA</a> <br> <a href="/search.html">Search our Site</a> <font color="#660000">||</font> <a href="javascript: cl();">Need more information about this subject?</a><br> Last Modified: Tuesday, 27-May-08 10:09:42<br> URL: http://msucares.com/wildfish/fisheries/farmpond/problems/leaking.html<br> <a href="http://www.msstate.edu/web/legal.html">Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution.</a><br> <a href="/disclaimer.html">Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.</a></font> </div> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-136896-1"; urchinTracker(); </script> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>