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Pond Construction Process – Lorain County

The Lorain Soil & Water Conservation District has suspended pond assistance to all townships in Lorain County effective 1/24/2012.

This change is due to funding cutbacks from the Lorain County Commissioners. As a result we will no longer be doing the following work items for new pond construction.

• Site investigations
• Soils investigation
• Pond surveys
• Pond site layouts
• Pond construction checks
• Final pond certification

It is therefore up to individual townships and the landowner to oversee construction of ponds in the unincorporated areas of Lorain County.

Here are a few suggestions and FYI’s to take into consideration if planning a pond:

1. When planning a new pond, always observe setbacks from property lines, structures, roads, neighbors etc., as established by individual townships zoning rules.
   
   
2. Most townships still require a permit to build a pond. Contact your zoning inspector with questions.
   
   
3. Contact the Ohio Utilities Protection Service at 1-800-362-2764 a minimum of 48 hours before you dig to check for underground utilities.
   
   
4. When planning a pond, make sure that you are not causing additional drainage problems to neighboring properties as a result of the construction.
   
   
5. If drainage tile are encountered during construction, they need to be routed around the pond.
   
   
6. A pond should never back up water on neighboring property, even after a storm event.
   
   
7. A pond should be positioned in a low area to be able to collect runoff. This will allow for a pond that fills quicker and maintains a water level during the course of a year.
   
   
8. Site a pond in an area to collect “clean” runoff from areas such as roofs, woodland, lawns or other grassy area. Avoid runoff from pastures, feedlots, septic systems, or eroding sites.
   
   
9. NRCS engineering standards for ponds calls for ponds to a minimum of eight (8) feet deep and 10,000 square feet in size. This is equivalent to ¼ acre.
   
   
10. An excavated pond of quarter-acre in size involves the excavation of approximately 2,000 cubic yards of soil material.
    
    
11. All ponds should be constructed with an overflow system to handle excess storm-water. Generally this involves a pipe overflow (to handle base flow) and emergency or earthen spillway (to handle large storm events).
    
    
12. Consider using the services of a professional engineer to assist with the planning and construction of a new pond.

The above items are only suggestions that may help if planning a new pond in Lorain County.

The Lorain SWCD has a limited number of Ohio Pond Management Handbooks and USDA Ponds-Planning, Design, Construction books available that will help with pond construction and management. They will be provided at no charge with proof of a paid pond application from your township.

NOTE: Township officials interested in having the Lorain SWCD resume pond services should contact the Lorain County Commissioners and ask that funding for the Lorain SWCD be restored.