How to build a wildlife pond

By news@duluthnewstribune.com

June 06, 2009 at 11:00 PM

Here's some of Uwe Kausch's advice on creating a pond for wildlife on your property.

Check with the appropriate land agencies before you begin.

Make sure you have clay soils to hold the water.

Develop a sketch of what you want the pond to look like.

Find a contractor who's experienced in building wildlife ponds.

Using a dozer, remove the topsoil and set it aside. If any rocks are encountered, set those aside as well. They make good loafing sites for birds and turtles when placed in the pond.

Keep the edges gently sloping. A 5-to-1 to 10-to-1 grade is best. Kausch's ponds are 1/4 to 3/4 acre in size. The small ones cost about $2,000 each, the largest about $4,500.

Create ponds with somewhat irregular edges, which wildlife prefers.

When the pond is dug, replace topsoil across the entire area of the pond basin and dike. This is needed for wetland plants to grow.

Place a few logs in random fashion on the edge of the pond as "loafing" places for turtles and waterfowl. Use rebar to hold them in place. Distribute along the shoreline any rocks or boulders found during the excavation.

Let the pond fill with water. This may take a full year.

Plant emergent vegetation species down to about 4 feet of depth. The deepest part of the pond can be about 8 feet deep. When the pond is grown in, ideally you are looking for a 50/50 mix of open water and emergent vegetation.

Add nesting boxes for ducks. Make sure their support posts are placed in the water, not on land, to minimize predator problems.