Proper Dam Maintenance On Ponds Very Important
Brian Triplett
Happy New Year!
I really enjoyed my time off with family and friends and am now looking forward to the new year and the opportunities that it always seems to bring.
There was a "watershed event" in Van Zandt County this past week when a dam gave way and nearly 10 billion gallons of water came rushing out and began making the trek down to Lake Palestine. Since ponds are prominent and endearing features on many rural landscapes, I thought we would devote this week to talking about properly maintaining the farm pond and its dam.
First of all, ponds come in many sizes in East Texas, but most are probably around one-half to three-fourths of an acre or less in size, and likely average around 8 feet or less in water depth. This means they typically hold up to 2 billion gallons of water (more or less) and should pose little risk to the surrounding area should a dam failure occur. The potential for damage increases as pond size and water depth increase and proximity to houses and other structures increases. Lakes that impound more than 200 acre feet of water are subject to permitting in Texas.
When building a new pond or lake on your property, enlist the services of someone knowledgeable in pond construction to keep from creating problems for yourself and the pond in your future. The Natural Resources Conservation Service can assist you in helping to select a site and recommended size for a pond on your property based on your soil type, topography and what is happening on the land uphill (the watershed) from your property. If you are building a pond downhill from a grassed pasture, you will receive less water at a slower rate from a rainfall event than if you are building downhill from an asphalt parking lot. The pond's size and spillway-overflow device needs to take these land characteristics into account prior to construction.
On existing ponds, monitor the dam on a regular basis and ensure that vegetation is growing on your earthen dam. Earthen dams should be managed using irrigation, fertilization and mowing, as needed, to keep a grassed cover on both the side of the dam leading into the water and the backside as well. Trees and other woody vegetation should not be planted on a dam for any reason. If you have small trees growing on a dam, one or two inches in diameter at most, mow them down and treat the stumps with a herbicide to keep them from coming back. Larger trees should be managed to keep them healthy and alive for as long as possible. The problem with larger trees is that when they die, their roots start to decay and can potentially cause underground channels for water to start seeping into the dam, weakening the structure.
Livestock traffic on the dam should be kept to a minimum to decrease the potential for erosion on the crown of the dam when it rains. Inspect the dam frequently for evidence of seepage and consult with a dam expert if you see this occurring. Vehicle traffic on the dam should be kept to a minimum, as well, and only allowed to happen during dry weather to minimize the potential for rutting, which could lead to seeping of water into the core of the dam. If you must drive on a dam, try to drive only on grassed areas when the soil is dry.
Periodically check the dam for damage caused by burrowing animals as well (in this area usually nutria or beavers). Removal of these nuisance animals is usually necessary to stop damage from occurring and to allow for repairs. The Texas Wildlife Damage Management Service office in Forth Worth can be reached at 817-978-3146 to assist with beaver control problems.
Make sure to maintain the overflow structures and spillways on the pond or lake as well. Clogged overflow pipes, spillways that become rutted or full of silt and fish-trapping devices that become clogged with leaf litter and other debris are all potential sources for contributing to overflow and possible dam breech during periods of heavy rain and water runoff.
Brian Triplett is the Smith County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources. He can be reached at 903-590-2980 or via e-mail at b-triplett@tamu.edu.
I really enjoyed my time off with family and friends and am now looking forward to the new year and the opportunities that it always seems to bring.
There was a "watershed event" in Van Zandt County this past week when a dam gave way and nearly 10 billion gallons of water came rushing out and began making the trek down to Lake Palestine. Since ponds are prominent and endearing features on many rural landscapes, I thought we would devote this week to talking about properly maintaining the farm pond and its dam.
First of all, ponds come in many sizes in East Texas, but most are probably around one-half to three-fourths of an acre or less in size, and likely average around 8 feet or less in water depth. This means they typically hold up to 2 billion gallons of water (more or less) and should pose little risk to the surrounding area should a dam failure occur. The potential for damage increases as pond size and water depth increase and proximity to houses and other structures increases. Lakes that impound more than 200 acre feet of water are subject to permitting in Texas.
When building a new pond or lake on your property, enlist the services of someone knowledgeable in pond construction to keep from creating problems for yourself and the pond in your future. The Natural Resources Conservation Service can assist you in helping to select a site and recommended size for a pond on your property based on your soil type, topography and what is happening on the land uphill (the watershed) from your property. If you are building a pond downhill from a grassed pasture, you will receive less water at a slower rate from a rainfall event than if you are building downhill from an asphalt parking lot. The pond's size and spillway-overflow device needs to take these land characteristics into account prior to construction.
On existing ponds, monitor the dam on a regular basis and ensure that vegetation is growing on your earthen dam. Earthen dams should be managed using irrigation, fertilization and mowing, as needed, to keep a grassed cover on both the side of the dam leading into the water and the backside as well. Trees and other woody vegetation should not be planted on a dam for any reason. If you have small trees growing on a dam, one or two inches in diameter at most, mow them down and treat the stumps with a herbicide to keep them from coming back. Larger trees should be managed to keep them healthy and alive for as long as possible. The problem with larger trees is that when they die, their roots start to decay and can potentially cause underground channels for water to start seeping into the dam, weakening the structure.
Livestock traffic on the dam should be kept to a minimum to decrease the potential for erosion on the crown of the dam when it rains. Inspect the dam frequently for evidence of seepage and consult with a dam expert if you see this occurring. Vehicle traffic on the dam should be kept to a minimum, as well, and only allowed to happen during dry weather to minimize the potential for rutting, which could lead to seeping of water into the core of the dam. If you must drive on a dam, try to drive only on grassed areas when the soil is dry.
Periodically check the dam for damage caused by burrowing animals as well (in this area usually nutria or beavers). Removal of these nuisance animals is usually necessary to stop damage from occurring and to allow for repairs. The Texas Wildlife Damage Management Service office in Forth Worth can be reached at 817-978-3146 to assist with beaver control problems.
Make sure to maintain the overflow structures and spillways on the pond or lake as well. Clogged overflow pipes, spillways that become rutted or full of silt and fish-trapping devices that become clogged with leaf litter and other debris are all potential sources for contributing to overflow and possible dam breech during periods of heavy rain and water runoff.
Brian Triplett is the Smith County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources. He can be reached at 903-590-2980 or via e-mail at b-triplett@tamu.edu.
FAQ
Search Forums
Log in
Register
