Ponds — Planning, Design, Agriculture Construction .
United StatesDepartment ricultureHandbookNumber 590Ponds —Planning, Design,Construction
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionPrefaceThis handbook describes the requirements for building a pond. It is usefulto the landowner for general information and serves as a reference for theengineer, technician, and contractor.In fulfilling their obligation to protect the lives and property of citizens,most states and many other government entities have laws, rules, andregulations governing the installation of ponds. Those responsible forplanning and designing ponds must comply with all such laws and regulations. The owner is responsible for obtaining permits, performing necessarymaintenance, and having the required safety inspections made.i
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionAcknowledgmentsThe first version of this handbook was prepared under the guidance ofRonald W. Tuttle, national landscape architect for the USDA, NaturalResources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Gene Highfill, nationalagricultural engineer (retired), NRCS, Washington, DC.This version of the handbook was prepared by Clifton Deal, soil mechanicengineer, NRCS Portland, Oregon; Jerry Edwards, hydraulic engineer(retired), NRCS, Columbia, Missouri; Neil Pellmann, agricultural engineer,NRCS, Columbia, Missouri; Ronald W. Tuttle; and under the guidance ofDonald Woodward, national hydrologist, NRCS, Washington, DC.The appendixes material was originally prepared for Landscape Architecture Note 2—Landscape Design: Ponds by Gary Wells, landscape architect,NRCS, Lincoln, Nebraska.Mary R. Mattinson, editor; Lovell S. Glasscock, editor; John D.Massey, visual information specialist; and Wendy R. Pierce, illustrator;NRCS, Fort Worth, Texas, provided valuable assistance in preparing thedocument for publishing.ii
AgricultureHandbookAgriculture Handbook590 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionContentsIntroductionPonds — Planning, Design,Construction1Water needs2Livestock . 2Irrigation . 3Fish production . 3Field and orchard spraying . 4Fire protection . 4Recreation . 6Waterfowl and other wildlife . 6Landscape quality . 6Multiple purposes . 8Preliminary investigations9General considerations . 9Area adequacy of the drainage . 9Minimum pond depth . 10Drainage area protection . 11Pond capacity . 12Landscape evaluation . 12Estimating storm runoff13Hydrologic groupings of soils . 13Runoff curve numbers . 13Volume of storm runoff . 18Rainfall amounts and expected frequency . 19Rainfall distribution . 19Peak discharge rate . 20Time of concentration . 20Average watershed slope . 21Flow length . 21Ia /P ratio . 21Estimating peak discharge rates . 22Site surveys24iii
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionEmbankment ponds24Detailed soils investigation . 24Spillway requirements . 26Pipes through the dam . 36Planning an earthfill dam . 45Staking for construction . 53Building the pond . 53Excavated ponds57Soils . 57Spillway and inlet requirements . 58Planning the pond . 58Building the pond . 61Sealing the pond62Compaction . 62Clay blankets . 63Bentonite . 63Chemical additives . 64Waterproof linings . 65Establishing vegetation66Protecting the pond . 66Wave action . 66Livestock . 67Operating and maintaining the pond68Pond safety69Before construction . 69During construction . 69After completion . 69References70Glossary71Appendixes75Appendix A: Estimating the Volume of an Excavated Pond . 75Appendix B: Flood-Tolerant Native Trees and Shrubs . 79iv
Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionAgriculture Handbook 590TablesTable 1Runoff curve numbers for urban areas14Table 2Runoff curve numbers for agricultural lands15Table 3Runoff curve numbers for other agricultural lands16Table 4Runoff curve numbers for arid and semiarid rangelands17Table 5Runoff depth, in inches18Table 6Ia values for runoff curve numbers21Table 7Minimum spillway design storm27Table 8Permissible velocity for vegetated spillways28Table 9Guide to selection of vegetal retardance28Table 10Hp discharge and velocities for natural vegetated30spillways with 3:1 end slope (Z1)Table 11Depth of flow (Hp) and slope range at retardance34values for various discharges, velocities, and crest lengthsTable 12Discharge values for smooth pipe drop inlets38Table 13Discharge values for corrugated metal pipe drop inlets38Table 14Minimum head, h (ft), required above the invert of413hood inlets to provide full flow, Q (ft /s), for various sizes ofsmooth pipe and values of total head, HTable 15Minimum head, h (ft), required above the invert of42hood inlets to provide full flow, Q (ft3/s), for varioussizes of corrugated pipe and values of total head, HTable 16Recommended side slopes for earth dams46Table 17End areas in square feet of embankment sections48for different side slopes and top widthsTable 18Volume of material needed for the earthfill51v
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionFiguresFigure 1Typical embankment and reservoir1Figure 2This pond supplies water to a stockwater trough used by2cattle in nearby grazing areaFigure 3Water is pumped out of this pond for irrigation3Figure 4A pond stocked with fish can provide recreation as4well as profitFigure 5A dry hydrant is needed when a pond is close enough5to a home or barn to furnish water for fire fightingFigure 6Details of a dry hydrant installation5Figure 7Ponds are often used for private as well as6public recreationFigure 8Waterfowl use ponds as breeding, feeding,7watering places, and as resting places during migrationFigure 9The shoreline of a well-designed pond is protected7from erosion by the addition of stone. Such a pond,reflecting nearby trees, increases the value ofthe surrounding landFigure 10This pond, which served as a sediment basin while8homes in the background were being constructed,now adds variety and value to the communityFigure 11A guide for estimating the approximate size of a10drainage area (in acres) required for each acre-footof storage in an embankment or excavated pondFigure 12Recommended minimum depth of water for ponds11in the United StatesFigure 13Land with permanent vegetation makes the12most desirable drainage areaFigure 14A preliminary study of two alternative sites for a pond12to be used for livestock water, irrigation, and recreationFigure 15Approximate geographic boundaries for NRCSrainfall distributionsvi19
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionFigure 16Time of concentration (Tc) nomograph20Figure 17aUnit peak discharge (qu) for Type I storm distribution23Figure 17bUnit peak discharge (qu) for Type IA storm distribution23Figure 17cUnit peak discharge (qu) for Type II storm distribution23Figure 17dUnit peak discharge (qu) for Type III storm distribution23Figure 18Borrow material taken from within the reservoir25area creates an irregular pond configurationFigure 19The apparent size of the pond is influenced by26surrounding vegetationFigure 20Plan, profile, and cross section of a natural spillway29with vegetationFigure 21Excavated earth spillway33Figure 22Drop-inlet pipe spillway with antiseep collar36Figure 23Drop-inlet pipe spillways37Figure 24Dam with hooded inlet pipe spillway39Figure 25Pipe inlet spillways that have trash rack and40antivortex baffleFigure 26Water is piped through the dam’s drainpipe to44a stockwater troughFigure 27A core trench is cut on the centerline of a dam45Figure 28Dam side slopes are curved and shaped to blend46with surounding topographyFigure 29Finished grading techniques47Figure 30A tree well preserves vegetation53Figure 31Irregular clearing around the pond helps create54a natural appearing edgeFigure 32Feathering vegetation at the pond's edge makes54a natural transition with existing vegetationvii
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionFigure 33The sod and topsoil in a pond construction area56can be stockpiled for later useFigure 34Geometric excavation graded to create more58natural configurationFigure 35Typical sections of an excavated pond59Figure 36Correct disposal of waste material60Figure 37Waste material and plantings separate the pond61from a major highwayFigure 38viiiDisking in chemical additive to seal a pond62
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, Constructionix
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionIssued June 1982Revised November 1997The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion,age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not allprohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities whorequire alternate means for communication of program information(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGETCenter at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Washington, DC, 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 or (202) 720-1127(TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity employer.x
Agriculture Handbook590 590AgricultureHandbookPonds — Planning, Design,ConstructionPonds—Planning, Design, ConstructionAn embankment pond (fig. 1) is made by building anembankment or dam across a stream or watercoursewhere the stream valley is depressed enough to permitstoring 5 feet or more of water. The land slope mayrange from gentle to steep.IntroductionFor many years farmers and ranchers have beenbuilding ponds for livestock water and for irrigation.By 1980 more than 2.1 million ponds had been built inthe United States by land users on privately ownedland. More will be needed in the future.An excavated pond is made by digging a pit or dugoutin a nearly level area. Because the water capacity isobtained almost entirely by digging, excavated pondsare used where only a small supply of water is needed.Some ponds are built in gently to moderately slopingareas and the capacity is obtained both by excavatingand by building a dam.The demand for water has increased tremendously inrecent years, and ponds are one of the most reliableand economical sources of water. Ponds are nowserving a variety of purposes, including water forlivestock and for irrigation, fish production, field andorchard spraying, fire protection, energy conservation,wildlife habitat, recreation, erosion control, and landscape improvement.The criteria and recommendations are for dams thatare less than 35 feet high and located where failure ofthe structure will not result in loss of life; in damage tohomes, commercial or industrial buildings, mainhighways, or railroads; or in interrupted use of publicutilities.This handbook describes embankment and excavatedponds and outlines the requirements for building each.The information comes from the field experience andobservation of land users, engineers, conservationists,and other specialists.Figure 1Typical embankment and reservoirCross section(not to scale)Temporary poolLocal information is essential, and land users areencouraged to consult with specialists experienced inplanning and building ponds.Top ofconstructed fillTop ofsettled fillStageP.S. inletcrestNormal ontslopeOse utlect tionCore trenchOutletchannel1
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionWater needsLivestockClean water and ample forage are equally essential forlivestock to be finished out in a marketable condition.If stockwater provisions in pasture and range areas areinadequate, grazing will be concentrated near thewater and other areas will be undergrazed. This cancontribute to serious livestock losses and instability inthe livestock industry.Watering places must also be properly distributed inrelation to the available forage. Areas of abundantforage may be underused if water is not accessible tolivestock grazing on any part of that area (fig. 2).An understanding of stockwater requirements helps inplanning a pond large enough to meet the needs of thestock using the surrounding grazing area. The averagedaily consumption of water by different kinds oflivestock shown here is a guide for estimating waterneeds.Kind of livestockGallons per head per dayBeef cattle and horsesDairy cows (drinking only)Dairy cows (drinking andbarn needs)HogsSheep23542The amount of water consumed at one pond dependson the average daily consumption per animal, numberof livestock served, and period over which they areserved.Providing enough watering places in pastures encourages more uniform grazing, facilitates pasture improvement practices, retards erosion, and enablesfarmers to make profitable use of soil-conservingcrops and erodible, steep areas unfit for cultivation.Figure 212 to 1515This pond supplies water to a stockwater trough used by cattle in nearby grazing area
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionIrrigationFarm ponds are now an important source of irrigationwater (fig. 3), particularly in the East, which does nothave the organized irrigation enterprises of the West.Before World War II irrigation was not considerednecessary in the humid East. Now many farmers in theEast are irrigating their crops.Water requirements for irrigation are greater thanthose for any other purpose discussed in this handbook. The area irrigated from a farm pond is limited bythe amount of water available throughout the growingseason. Pond capacity must be adequate to meet croprequirements and to overcome unavoidable waterlosses. For example, a 3-inch application of water onl acre requires 81,462 gallons. Consequently, irrigationfrom farm ponds generally is limited to high-valuecrops on small acreages, usually less than 50 acres.The required storage capacity of a pond used forirrigation depends on these interrelated factors: waterrequirements of the crops to be irrigated, effectiveFigure 3rainfall expected during the growing season, application efficiency of the irrigation method, losses due toevaporation and seepage, and the expected inflow tothe pond. Your local NRCS conservationist can helpyou estimate the required capacity of your irrigation pond.Fish productionMany land users are finding that fish production isprofitable. A properly built and managed pond canyield from l00 to 300 pounds of fish annually for eachacre of water surface. A good fish pond can alsoprovide recreation (fig. 4) and can be an added sourceof income should you wish to open it to people in thecommunity for a fee.Ponds that have a surface area of a quarter acre toseveral acres can be managed for good fish production. Ponds of less than 2 acres are popular becausethey are less difficult to manage than larger ones. Aminimum depth of 8 feet over an area of approximately1,000 square feet is needed for best management.Water is pumped out of this pond for irrigation3
Agriculture Handbook 590Ponds—Planning, Design, ConstructionField and orchard sprayingYou may wish to provide water for applying pesticidesto your field and orchard crops. Generally, the amountof water needed for spraying is small, but it must beavailable when needed. About l00 gallons per acre foreach application is enough for most field crops. Orchards, however, may require 1,000 gallons or moreper acre for each spraying.Provide a means of conveying water from the pond tothe spray tank. In an embankment pond, place a pipethrough the dam and a flexible hose at the downstream end to fill the spray tank by gravity. In anexcavated pond, a small pump is needed to fill thetank.Fire protectionA dependable water supply is needed for fighting fire.If your pond is located close to your house, barn, orother buildings, provide a centrifugal pump with apower unit and a hose long enough to reach all sidesof all the buildings. Als
v Agriculture Handbook 590 Ponds—Planning, Design, Construction Tables Table 1 Runoff curve numbers for urban areas 14 Table 2 Runoff curve numbers for agricultural lands 15 Table 3 Runoff curve numbers for other agricultural lands 16 Table 4 Runoff curve numbers for arid and semiarid rangelands 17 Table 5 Runoff depth, in inches 18 Table 6 I a values for runoff curve numbers 21
8/1 8/16 9/1 9/16 10/1 10/16 80 60 40 20 0 Embanked ponds Creek-fed ponds A. B. A. C. B. D. C. Both cells lack a nucleus. D. Both cells undergo meiosis. Infection in embanked ponds increased during the sampling period. Both cells contain a mitochondrion. Protozoans were more common in creek-fed ponds than embanked ponds. Both cells contain .
Spa Ponds was purchased FTNCG by in May 2014, and in March 2015 the deeds (Title number NT502006) were registered in the name of the Official Custodian for Charities. Figures 1a and 1b. Spa Ponds Nature Reserve Map and Aerial View Habitats at Spa Ponds include: semi-natural broadleaved woodland, freshwater ponds, and a section of the River Maun.
ponds that breed tropical fish that are used as pets commonly known as aquariums instead of ponds, and ponds that breed fish for food. Our focus in this paper are the ponds that bread fish for food, typically
and how many fish you can harvest each year. Most farm ponds in Texas are built for livestock watering and are less than 1 acre in surface area. Although owners of small ponds traditionally want “bass in their tanks,” these small ponds are really not suited for bass
v Agriculture Handbook 590 Ponds—Planning, Design, Construction Tables Table 1 Runoff curve numbers for urban areas 14 Table 2 Runoff curve numbers for agricultural lands 15 Table 3 Runoff curve numbers for other agricultural lands 16 Table 4 Runoff curve numbers for arid and semiarid rangelands 17 Table 5 Runoff depth, in
know about the characteristics of Pond Constructed for fish culturing. After the pond installation sites have been chosen, the next step is to set up the ponds. Fish production requires earth ponds, which contain and renew fresh water, and can accommodate the storage, farming, and harvest of fish. Construction of the ponds and
Wet ponds can work in almost all soils and geology, with minor design adjustments for regions of karst (i.e., limestone) topography. Designers can include liners for soils with high infiltration rates if water loss is a concern. Groundwater . Unless stormwater hot spots are a concern, ponds can intersect the groundwater table. This contact .
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