Natural Resource Conservation Service

POND M-(378)- Statewide NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD POND CODE 378M

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE themselves unless the embankment or other PLAN disturbed areas are overgrazed. Livestock also leave trails which concentrate erosion. If your You, the owner (or operator) are responsible for conservation plan calls for fencing out the the maintenance of your pond. All ponds structure, the fences need to be kept in good designed by the repair. If your conservation plan does not call for Code 378mNatural Resources Conservatoin fencing it should be considered if livestock trails Service (NRCS) are based on the best available and overgrazing are beginning to cause excessive technology but their actual lifespan still depends erosion. on proper maintenance. Avoid using the emergency spillway as a travel Well maintained ponds will last for many years. lane for vehicles or farm machinery. These trails are starting points for gully and rill erosion in the The NRCS has prepared the following guidelines event that a large storm causes emergency for pond maintenance: spillway flow. Inspect the embankment for rodent Inspect your pond after the first significant rainfall damage. Burrowing animals create holes which and again after each rainfall until it reaches the full cause “underground pipes.” Water can flow mark. Thereafter it should be inspected each through these underground pipes causing internal spring while vegetation is still dormant. Problems scouring of the pond embankment and can can be concealed under a lush growth of eventually lead to failure of the embankment. vegatation so any weaknesses are more easily Structural features to watch for: identified early in the year. 1. Unusual seepage high on the back side of Inspect your pond after the first growing season to the dam. determine if the new seeding is becoming established. If the seeding is unsuccessful, 2. Trash accumulation plugging the pipe reseed it during the next seeding period, using the inlet. original seeding mixture specifications. 3. Scour hole around the pipe inlet. Thereafter, inspect the vegetation annually and fertilize or reseed if necessary. Weeds will also 4. Unusual sink holes on the back side of need to be controlled to enhance the success of the dam. the seeding. 5. Water flowing underneath the pipe at the When applying herbicides on land adjacent to the outlet. pond embankment, consider the effects on the 6. Water flowing into the pipe but not coming grass seeding vegetation and use caution to out. prevent damage. Control weeds on your pond embankment with herbicides that are non- 7. Water flowing out of the pipe but none injurious to grass or mow/clip if possible (Refer to coming in. current Cooperative Extension guides for 8. Deterioration or breakup of concrete herbicide use in Nebraska). Remove volunteer and/or pipe. trees and shrubs as they appear. 9. Drawdown valve, check for proper Minor rilling can be expected until the grass gets operation. well established. These rills will usually heal 10. Silt bars in outlet channels. NE-T.G. Notice 401 NE-NRCS-JANUARY 1995 Section IV POND (378)-2 Statewide 11. Rock riprap damaged by freeze-thaw 14. Safety features such as fences, signs, action. etc, check for needed repair. 12. Excessive erosion in plunge pool. If your inspection of the above items suggest problems that need special attention, consult your 13. Excessive erosion due to wave action on local NRCS Field Office. the front side of the embankment.

NE-T.G. Notice xxx Section IV NRCS-January 1995