As I sit here looking out my window at the pouring rain, I thought of the benefits of a water feature in your landscape. Water features can range from a birdbath, a fountain, a reflecting pond, an actual personal pond/lake, and a recirculating waterfall. What is right for your landscape, property, and budget?

Why a water feature? Water has a soothing effect both visually and by sound. In nature, people have long been attracted to waterfalls.

Black Water Falls, West Virginia

Some are huge, some are dainty, Cascade Falls, Elyria, Ohio some have cities named after them, where some are tourist attractions.

East Falls Riverwalk. Elyria, Ohio

Some increase and decrease with rainfall. Image

Random Waterfall during high rain, South Bank of the Grand River, Perry, Ohio.

On a smaller scale, many current landscape designs include an outdoor cooking area or kitchen, a sitting area with a table for dining, a fire feature, and a water feature that may be small, all the way up to a hot tub swim spa. So which water feature is right and where do you start?

A couple of general questions:

How big?

2. How much do you want to spend?

3. How much effort do you want to invest?

4. What is your end game? Aesthetics? Fishing?

5. Do you want fish, plants or just water?

Let’s start with small. The most basic water feature is a bird bath. Image

No maintenance. If the water gets dirty or infested with mosquito larvae, dump it out and refill it with clean water. No plants, no fish, no algae. Easy to put away for winter. Price range can be up to $100.

A water feature providing sight and sound is a tabletop fountain. Small, compact, self-contained, aesthetically pleasing. Image

These have a pump requiring electricity, like this one shown here, but solar versions are available. No fish. No plants. If they get dirty, dump them out, hose them out and refill them with clean water. In winter, store in a garage or shed. Fountains start at around $100 and up.

You can also install a small fountain in the landscape and still get the sight and sound. Image

A self-contained recirculating landscape pond can require more effort and attention. Image

If there are no plants, fish or wildlife and the water gets dirty or infested, pump the water out and refill. Image In the winter remove the pump and lights. Cost can range from several hundred dollars and up.

In a greenhouse setting, water features are beautiful and add to the visitor experience. Image

Free standing ponds without plants can be chlorinated to prevent algae. Image

So far, I’ve covered those water features requiring the least amount of effort.

Let’s talk about aquatic plants and fish. Now the work begins. Living things require care. Water plants can be purchased for fishponds. You must be sure you are not introducing an invasive species. Some require care to be removed in winter or for a heater in the water to prevent freezing. And heaters cost money to run. In addition, an aerator in addition to a fountain aids in plant and animal health. The downside is you can’t just dump dirty or infested water. Think of it like a fish tank. You have an air source, a filtration system, a need to feed the living things and care for them year-round. Image

Typical pond animals include goldfish, koi, and turtles. From personal experience, all are dirty and can smell bad, especially turtles. It’s up to you, but if you commit to plants and animals, commit to year-round care. The cost may be less than $1000, but what is your time worth? Enough about ‘Fishponds’.

Recirculating streams in a landscape have increased in popularity. Image

Many water features are designed to be fish and plant free. Most include filtration, moving water and the ability to treat with chemicals. Think of a swimming pool. Image

Hot tubs and swim spas are self-contained, and many current models incorporate lights and a waterfall. Image

The cost? $5000 and up. $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 and up. And enter maintenance requirements, chemicals, cleaning, filters, just like a pool. But oh, so relaxing. Image

Back to the personal landscape pond/lake. Image

Initial questions include how deep, the lining of the pond, water source, electric supply, overflow, or spillway, and commitment to maintenance. And again, if you include fish, another layer or commitment to cost and maintenance.

If you are digging/creating a pond, a must resource is The Ohio Pond Management Handbook:

https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/wildlife/fish-management/Pond%20Management%20Pub432.pdf

This is a 44-page document full of information and a must read prior to embarking on a pond construction.

So now that you read (or at least skimmed) The Ohio Pond Management Handbook, you are more ready to decide whether you want to construct and maintain a pond.

I will use an example close to home. ‘My son’s house which is across the street’.

Some basic questions. Why did he build a pond/lake?

His lot was low and in order to have a basement, the house was built 5 feet above grade. To build up and fill around the foundation was 400 triaxle loads of soil. Either bring in that much dirt or dig out a pond and use it as fill. That’s what he and his wife decided. Image

The pond was designed as a triangle. Image

The deepest spot was 14 feet. Cost of excavation, grading, and pond creation was $31,000. The pond alone was $25,000. Image

The overflow was an earthen dam. Image

He could have used an overflow pipe like this pond. Image

The water source was runoff from his roof and turf as well as the Christmas tree planting adjacent. Total is 3 ½ acres which drains to the pond.

A mound was installed next to the roadside of the lake/pond as a planting area for trees. Image

Next, an electric line was run to the edge of the pond.

Large boulders were place at the bottom of the pond to provide structure for fish. Image

The pond bottom was lined with clay and seemed to hold water well. Some people use a rubber bladder/liner.

The pond shore was lined with coarse stone. Image

It took a year for the pond/lake to fill.

An aerator was installed in the deep part of the lake. Image

An air pump circulates air.

This is far more important for the health of a pond/lake than a fountain. Cost of the aerator is $1700. Cost to run monthly $15.

That being said, they also installed a fountain for effect.

Cost of the fountain $4000. Monthly operating costs at 14 hrs. a day is $75. The fountain is installed April through November.

Soon after the pond/lake filled, we realized algae would be an issue. We applied several algaecides according to the label. It costs around $50 each application. The most effective way to limit growth was pond dye. Starting in March, he applies dye 3-4 times a year. Cost $30 per gallon times 4.

We do use aquatically labeled herbicides several times a year. But you never want to spray more than 1/3 of the total plant material in a pond to prevent fish kill. This includes partial cattail control as well as algae.

We wanted to stock the pond. First, in the spring, we stocked 20 pounds of fat head minors along with 4 weighted pallets to provide structure for them to spawn.

In the fall of that year, we stocked largemouth bass, bluegill, and red eared sunfish along with more minnows. The stock initially was $2000. Image

Two years later we checked the growth of the bass. Our fish supplier said they looked ‘skinny’. Image

This summer we stocked 20 pounds of minnows and 2 different sized bluegills. Both minnows and small bluegill would act as bass food. Cost was $1500.

In summary, a lake/pond well maintained can really enhance the aesthetics of a property. The total area of my son’s pond is 1/3 acres and 14 feet at the deepest spot.

Your commitment:

Run an aerator year-round.

The fountain is on a timer.

Dye the pond prior to any algae growth begins, usually March.

Use algaecides herbicides aa needed following the label.

If you are adding fish, you need to care for them just like a fish tank. They need an air supply.

They need food.

But in a couple years, my granddaughter will have a blast catching fish. (Along with dad and grandpa)!

For more in-depth information, our state pond/aquatic specials is Eugene Braig. His website is found below:

https://senr.osu.edu/our-people/eugene-c-braig-iv

https://northcentralwater.org/regional-leadership/ohio/

Now, did I get you thinking about a water feature? My advice, start small.

Ron Wilson