There are many ponds in Warren County. Some are attractive, full of water, and look healthy. Some are only half full, choked with weeds, and an eyesore on the landscape. If you are considering building a pond on your property, which type you might end up with (attractive or eyesore) depends largely upon some careful research and planning before the bulldozers and backhoes roll in. The two most important considerations are soil type/texture within the pond site and quantity/quality of the drainage area feeding into the pond site.

​Soil conditions vary widely and sometimes abruptly across the landscape. The ideal soils for pond construction are fine silty clays that pack well with low permeability. Warren Co SWCD's office recommends that soils be investigated early in the planning process to identify whether suitable clay is available within the site. This investigation can generally be performed with a normal construction backhoe. A series of holes are dug within the site to a depth exceeding the expected pond bottom. This reveals the soil profile that will be encountered during construction. If the planned pond will require construction of a dam, special attention should be given to the area of this proposed structure. This is a small investment of time and money and is well worth it before effort is expended on a failed project. 

Surface water runoff is the source of water for almost all ponds in Warren County. It is important that the site has the proper sized watershed (drainage area) in relation to pond size desired. A good rule of thumb is: If you want a 1 acre pond, the watershed should be a minimum of 6 acres (6:1 ratio) or a maximum of 30 acres (30:1 ratio). The land use within the watershed is also important. A well vegetated and clean drainage area will provide the best water for a pond site. Areas of potential pollution such as septic leach fields, concentrated livestock areas, cultivated areas, and road ditches increase the possibility of contaminated water reaching the pond site. Ideally, it’s preferrable that the pond owner has control and management of the entire drainage area where possible. That way, the owner knows and controls the quality of the water coming into the pond.

Ponds may just seem like holes in the ground that collect water, but there is much to consider in planning for and maintaining a successful one. Warren Co SWCD technicians are available to consult with Warren County landowners who are planning to build or need advice on managing a pond on their property. Our technical assistance calls are always free and we encourage everyone to take advantage of these services! For more information, call our offices at (513) 695-1337 or sign up for the upcoming 2023 Pond Clinic here.

There are 88 counties in Ohio, each with a Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). SWCDs were created in response to the Dust Bowl event of the 1930s, when poor farming practices, heat, and drought led to wind-blown erosion on a massive scale. The loss of valuable, organic-rich topsoil threatened food production and livelihoods. In fact, the International Soil Reference and Information Centre estimates that seventeen percent of the world’s soils have been strongly degraded and those areas are growing, leading to increased global food insecurity. Soil formation is a slow process so replacing lost soil is challenging. It can take 500 to 1,000 years for one inch of topsoil to form depending on environmental factors (Columbia University). When erosion occurs, not only is this valuable resource lost, but it ends up in streams and lakes. The suspended sediment clouds water, making it hard for aquatic life to breathe and find food. Erosion prevention is important on farms and construction sites where the soil is excavated and moved around. 

One way Warren Co SWCD targets erosion is through administering Earth Disturbing Permits and upholding the Ohio EPA’s Construction General Permit. Earth disturbing activities larger than one acre are subject to the Earth Disturbing Permit process. The process usually begins with a review of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. In this plan, engineers detail how multiple erosion control measures work together to achieve a cumulative effect to reduce the amount of sediment carried off-site from weather or construction activity. You may have driven by a construction site and wondered, what are those black fences or rolls? These are just a few of the best management practices (BMPs) designed to minimize off-site tracking of sediment into roads and waterways. 

Silt fences are made of black fabric and are meant to pond water behind them, allowing sediment to settle out. These are usually used as perimeter controls. Mulch berms and filter socks filled with mulch also work well to filter sediment. Lots under construction typically have filter socks placed along the perimeter of the site. However, some sediment can escape and make its way to a storm drain. Only rainwater should go through a storm drain in the street, so inlet protection is required on drains to catch sediment before it makes its way further. It is crucial that pollutants are not poured down a storm drain because these drains do not lead to a treatment facility—they drain directly to a waterway without treatment. Inlet protections come in many forms, but mesh drop baskets work well to trap sediment during construction. 

​After reaching storm drains, stormwater usually drains to a basin. This is the last stop before leaving the site and being discharged into a creek or river. To help reduce sediment leaving the construction site, a basin is designed as a sediment settling pond, draining water through a skimmer device that floats on the surface. While the skimmer floats on top, sediment falls to the bottom of the basin and settles. This way, the skimmer can drain the cleanest portion of water from a basin. When functioning properly, a multitude of site controls work together to greatly reduce the amount of sediment-laden water leaving the site and impacting the waterways. Closing a project involves a final walkthrough to ensure that the site is fully stabilized with grass and that temporary erosion control measures are removed. When exposed soil has been fully stabilized with grass, there is no longer a need to filter sediment from runoff.

​There are many ways stormwater is controlled on a construction site before it is discharged into a waterway. Monthly inspections help ensure that the temporary stormwater controls are maintained and functioning properly. Construction sites are messy by nature, and stormwater management is a continuous effort. Only sites over an acre are regulated through our earth disturbing process, but you can help protect our cherished natural resources regardless of the size of your project. Building a shed in your back yard? Ensure that sediment is filtered by installing a mulch berm along the downslope perimeter of your property to filter the runoff until the ground is stabilized with grass. Let’s all take part in the effort to preserve our soils and streams for future generations as our ancestors did for us.

Resources:

Columbia University. https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2012/04/12/why-soil-matters/#:~:text=It%20can%20take%20500%20to,%2C%20topography%2C%20and%20living%20organisms.

Ohio EPA Rainwater and Land Development Manual. https://epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/surface-water/guides-manuals/rainwater-and-land-development?msclkid=cb5f60f4b48d11ec8b5ece1ef5e16d3c
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