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Construction Ditches & Ponds

Although builders and property owners frequently construct ponds for aesthetic purposes in residential settings, think about building ditches together with ponds in places where extra drainage is necessary. For drainage ditches situated along roadsides or at other regions where flooding is widespread, builders should design them in such a way that water runoff finally ends up in a drainage pond specifically built to alleviate and prevent flooding. Therefore selection of the greatest pond website as well as the way ditches drain in the pond are of ultimate importance.

Drainage Ditch Considerations

Irrigation ditches are common in the American southwest where farms and semi-urban properties are situated in what once was desert land. They are also utilized in places where the natural topography doesn’t let water move away from roads or in other areas in which liters of weather is undesirable. When constructing ditches, seed or plant vegetation on the banks to stabilize the sides. Larger ditches may need screens to avoid migration of fish away from the pond.

Pond Water Sources

Groundwater, surface water and rain runoff supply the most important sources for water. Use diverted water out of rivers and streams only if the topography is conducive to it. Pump groundwater from wells as a key resource for levees or excavated ponds or for use as a supplementary resource for those who have substandard watersheds. Embankment ponds utilize rain runoff as a key water source. Properly constructed ditches will help ease this runoff and increase the pond’s water level.

Sizing

The watershed, or drainage region location determines the pond’s size. Be sure the pond deep enough to meet its intended usage and offset possible seepage and evaporation. Ponds having an intended year water water supply should be deeper. A one-acre pond needs a 10- to 15-acre watershed to supply sufficient water. Minimum pond depth is approximately six to seven feet, but a depth of 10 to 15 feet is average. Deciding the type of soil is also important to prevent fluctuating water levels. Soils with higher levels of clay keep water inside the banks. Because of these factors, obtain technical help when sizing a pond prior to building.

Ethics, Licenses, Contractors

To ensure the success of your pond or ditch, have the website surveyed by a professional engineer. Survey information, such as suggestion dam and spillway location, coastline, soil structure and much more will be utilized to calculate earth fill considerations and other building conditions. Before actual building, secure the correct requirements. If you don’t own ground excavation equipment, employ a contractor capable to follow layout plans to build your pond and ditches. Work with somebody who has previously developed water features for best outcomes.

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