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:
- When planning a new pond, always observe setbacks from property lines, structures, roads, neighbors etc., as established by individual townships zoning rules.
- Most townships still require a permit to build a pond. Contact your zoning inspector with questions.
- Contact the Ohio Utilities Protection Service at 1-800-362-2764 a minimum of 48 hours before you dig to check for underground utilities.
- When planning a pond, make sure that you are not causing additional drainage problems to neighboring properties as a result of the construction.
- If drainage tile are encountered during construction, they need to be routed around the pond.
- A pond should never back up water on neighboring property, even after a storm event.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- An excavated pond of quarter-acre in size involves the excavation of approximately 2,000 cubic yards of soil material.
- 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).
- 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.