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Just Add Water

STORY BY P.J. PEREA
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOE AND LOIS SPIVEY

Many resources are available to assist private pond owners.

Ponds are much more than just water-filled holes in the ground. In certain situations, they can be an oasis for local wildlife. With the right care and management, a private pond can serve as an interesting focal point for a property and ideal habitat for the fish and wildlife of the local ecosystem.

Whether a private pond is being built for aesthetics, wildlife viewing, fishing or other recreational activities, there are a number of considerations that should be planned well in advance of digging a hole and filling it with water.

Dan Stephenson is a district fisheries biologist with the Department of Natural Resources and handles numerous requests about pond issues from landowners. In fact, requests regarding pond construction and management are among the most frequent requests for information.

"Our fishery biologists throughout the state answer questions and offer advice on an average of 4,000 private pond-related matters annually," Stephenson said.

Joe Spivey of Petersburg is a private pond owner who used the services of the DNR and is very pleased with the results.

In 1997, Spivey consulted with Stephenson on the construction and management of his pond. Spivey also took advantage of DNR publications as a source of information for pond management.

"I decided that I wanted a pond for fishing and to add to the aesthetics of our new home," Spivey stated.

Fortunately, the area near the home included a few sloping ravines and enough drainage to create a good-sized pond. Once the dam was finished and the pond filled to about 3.5 acres, Spivey

A private pond can be managed to become a great fishing spot and serve as a quiet getaway from the hustle and bustle of the world.



(Photo by Chas. J. Dees.)

Water adds an excellent aesthetic quality to any property and attracts a variety of wildlife.

noted a variety of animals were quickly attracted to his small lake.

"I have deer galore right behind my home," he said, adding that it is not unusual to see herds of 50 to 100 deer come out of the woods in the mornings and evenings to browse in the fields and quench their thirst from the pond.

"I have a regular group of people who come by just to see the wildlife that congregates on the property," he stated.

Spivey's fish community also has flourished, and his family and friends have caught dozens of bluegill, bass and channel catfish.

Along with the deer, two flocks of turkeys have taken residence on the sprawling 42 acres of the Spivey homestead. Squirrels, ducks, geese, blue herons, cattle egrets, foxes, skunks, opossums, raccoons, dozens of species of songbirds, raptors and coyotes can be commonly seen around the property.

"It's a joy to be able to look at the animals. Wildlife need a place for protection," he stated.

As a result of his pond's success in attracting wildlife, Spivey plans to put the rest of his property into a long-term conservation program to attract more species and provide much needed habitat.

Frequently sought-after information:

Because of so much interest and so many questions surrounding private pond building and maintenance, we asked Dan Stephenson to provide guidelines for landowners. He included answers to some frequently asked questions:

Construction

• Before any excavation, landowners should first consult with their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office and Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) about pond construction resources, aerial photos of their property, soil maps of the site and topographic maps of the surrounding area.

• Landowners should consider the lay of the land surrounding the pond. Is it flat, sloping, or hilly? The type of drainage is very important when choosing a site for the pond.

• There should be 10 to 20 acres of drainage available for every acre of pond planned. For example, a three-acre pond would need 30 to 60 acres of available drainage to maintain adequate water levels.

• Ideally, most private ponds should be between one and five acres in size and about 15 to 20 feet at the deepest point.

• During construction, it is not necessary to completely clear cut all of the trees. Leaving some tree stumps will provide good habitat for fish once the pond fills up. A few trees on the edge can be felled into the pond to provide habitat on the margins.

• Dam heights under 25 feet do not require a special permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Stocking a new pond

• Uninformed pond owners and advice from well-intended friends can often hurt more than help when it comes to stocking new ponds. Random bucket stocking of fish may allow one species to overproduce. Plus, not all species of fish are beneficial to the fish community and can contribute to a severely imbalanced

April 2002   3


Information you can use

In addition to offering advice from district fisheries biologists, DNR has the following guides available for landowners to help them with the planning, construction and management of their ponds.

Aquatic Plants—An identification guide to the common aquatic plants found in Illinois.

What Fish is this?—Identification guide to the common fish found in Illinois.

Management of Small Lakes and Pond in Illinois—Handy guide for pond owners covering planning, construction, stocking, fishing tips, pond management, common problems, fish diseases, fish life history, cooking fish, pond safety and information regarding Division of Fisheries office locations and contacts.

Contact the DNR Clearinghouse, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271. E-mail: clearing@dnrmail.state.il.us. Phone (217) 782-7498. TTY (217) 782-9175 or fax (217) 782-9552.

US Department of Agriculture— NRCS offers a publication on pond construction. Ponds—Planning, Design, Construction is available at local NRCS offices or from the main office, 2118 W. Park Court, Champaign, IL 61821. Phone (217) 353-6600 or fax (217) 353-6676. A PDF version of Ponds—Planning, Design, Construction is online at http://www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/.

Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD)-The Association of Soil and Water Conservation District website features an online directory of all SWCD offices listed by county. Visit http://aiswcd.org/ or contact AISWCD, 2520 Main St. Springfield, IL 62702. Phone (217) 744-3414 or fax (217) 744-3420.


With the right planning and care landowners like Joe and Lois Spivey can create a little piece of paradise in their own backyard.

condition. It is best to consult with your local DNR district biologist about what is best for your pond.

• DNR's Division of Fisheries has a 40-plus year history of stocking fish ponds. Its staff has a good grasp on what species do best in ponds, knows what balance (and the numbers per acre) of predators and prey species are needed, and can time the stockings to start a very good fishery.

• DNR's hatchery system provides private land owners, who have newly constructed, winter-killed or recently renovated ponds, with a low-cost service to restore or start a fish community through its private pond stocking program. For a $25 fee, plus $1 per acre, the hatchery will provide the correct balance and properly timed stocking of bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish and largemouth bass.

Pond Management

• Pond owners should enforce catch and release on all largemouth bass under 15 inches for the first three to four years. It's also important to maintain a strong predator base to keep the panfish community in check for the first few years.

• Wait two years after the initial stocking to supplement the fish community. Channel catfish will not reproduce naturally in ponds, so they might need restocking.

• Don't deviate from the original four species: bluegill, redear sun-fish, channel catfish and largemouth bass.

• Fish that do not belong in a small private pond include: white crappie, black crappie, white bass, yellow bass, green sunfish, gizzard shad, bullheads and carp. These fish often compete with desired pond fish, imbalance or stunt the population and can potentially take over a pond to a point where a complete rehabilitation will be necessary to restore the fish community.

• Aquatic vegetation can be a nuisance to a pond. Consult a district biologist or a certified plant control specialist to determine what action will be necessary. Homemade concoctions may be dangerous. And commercially produced chemicals may not properly control the problem plant species or, if improperly applied, can eradicate too much vegetation, leading to dangerous anoxic conditions that threaten the health of fish and imbalance the chemical processes in the water.

Common Misconceptions

• It is not true that if DNR stocks the pond, the public is allowed to fish the pond. The fish belong to the landowner, and it is up to the landowner to grant permission to those anglers wishing to access the pond.

• A pond doesn't last forever. Expect one-acre ponds to typically last 10-12 years and two- to five-acre ponds 15-20 years. Even with the best management, don't be surprised if it becomes necessary to rehabilitate a pond and start over.

4  OutdoorIllinois


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