Pond Building and Preparation

1
Pond Building and Preparation

• Geoff Wallat
• Ohio State University
• South Centers - Piketon

2
Site Selection

• New Location or Existing Location
• Leave room in either case for future expansion
• Cost of land
• Determine water source and soil type (heavy clay
  ideal)
• Near farm land? Pesticides and Wind drift

3
Site Selection

• Neighboring Properties
• Agricultural runoff / Urban / Residential
• Natural water bodies
• Access to site
• Roadways, electrical, house on property
• Water reuse and retention (Step Design)

4
Site Selection - Soils

• Soil Type and Quality
• Permeable (sand) to non-permeable (clay)
• Soil and Water Conservation District office can
  tell you soil type(s)
• Test pH and Alkalinity
• Metals (?)
• Pesticides and Residuals Shrimp more sensitive
  than fish
• Spectrum Analytical Inc. Washington Court House
• (This is not an endorsement of company)

5
Site Selection - Water

• Water Source Type and Quality
• Well or Spring best - Flow rate and Clean
• Watershed or Runoff water?
• Creek or stream least favorable, SCREEN IT!
• Quality Test pH, Alkalinity, Metals (?)

6
Use an Existing Pond?

• Not recommended in most cases
• Why?
• Farm / recreational ponds are too deep
• Uneven circulation / mixing of water
• Bottoms uneven, difficult to drain completely,
  trapping shrimp
• Other aquatic species present prey on shrimp
• If this is all you have, well make due!
• Can be used as water source for new ponds

7
Construction

• Moving soil
• Contractor cost v. Do-it-Yourself
• Depth of ponds cubic yards moved
• Size and Number of ponds
• Moving water in and out of ponds
• Pumping equipment and piping
• Drainage piping
• Water storage ponds

8
Considerations

• Levee pond v. farm pond construction
• Scrape off and remove topsoil
• Add clay (min 20) if needed
• Sides slope of 31 or 21 for algae control
• Depth of Pond
• Single Use (Shrimp) 4 foot deep end
• Multi- Use 6 to 8 foot deep end
• for over-wintering

9
Levee Slope
21 or 31 -- Every 2 feet out, drop 1 foot
Algae Control Shallow edges warmer
10
Catch Basins
11
Catch Basins
Nathan Hogue Cliffs Pay Lakes Scioto County
12
External Catch Basin

• Polly Creech Athens County

13
Drainage
External or Internal
L.Swann - AquaNIC
14
Anti -Seep Collar on Drain Pipes
http//www.cjnetworks.com/sccdistrict/pondpic.htm
No Seep Collars RESULT
Anti Seep Collars
15
Levee Ponds

• Well Packed (Sheeps-Foot) no leaks
• Must dig a Key Trench for Levee (prevent leakage
  and sliding)

16
Sheeps Foot (Feet?)
GOOD
BETTER !
17
Equipment
Pan Scraper
18
Key Trench for Levee
19
Key Trench for Levee Anti-Seep Collar around
Drain Pipe
20
A Levee Pond Construction Estimate

• Contractors price 1.50 - 1.75 / cu yd.
• 1 acre pond, 21 slope, Moved 4,800 cu. yd.
• _at_ 1.75 8,400 per 1 acre pond
• Plan for 10,000 per acre
• Plan on same for smaller pond

21
Equipment and Supplies

• Aeration Critical in shrimp production
• Power source
• Aeration equipment
• Substrate additions
• Harvesting
• Access for supply trucks, hauling trucks, etc.
• Seine nets, dip nets, holding containers, holding
  ponds

22
Agitator and Fountain
Aspirator
Paddlewheel
23
Substrate
24
Other Cost Considerations

• Excavation more or less ?
• Southern Ohio - Appl. Foothills
• Site addition or removal of topsoil / clay
• Seeding pond banks erosion control
• Water Source Well is best, adds cost
• Several are using watershed approach

25
Alternative Water Source
26
Economics

• Initial Investments
• Land
• Water and Electrical supply
• Construction costs
• Equipment and Supplies
• Labor
• Storage Building / Other Buildings

27
Economics

• Operating costs
• Electricity
• Feed
• Labor
• Maintenance and Upkeep
• Scrape and re-pack the pond every 5 - 10 years
• Grounds-keeping
• Invasive Species Muskrats, snakes, turtles,
  birds, as well as other aquatics