Ponds, both natural and constructed, are a common feature of the King Township landscape, along roadsides and on rural properties. Lets face it, most of us consider ponds – and water in general – a desirable landscape element. Ponds can be a focal feature, can add visual drama, can induce contemplation, can create wildlife habitat, can be a swimming hole and a skating rink. We long to be near water, likely because we innately appreciate its life-giving properties.

Sure, ponds are great, but understand that if you want to maintain open water, some on-going management is essential. Under natural conditions, most ponds in southern Ontario have a tendency to accumulate sediment and organic matter. Over time, and in the absence of any intervention, a pond is likely to undergo a slow, gradual natural succession to wetland, and over centuries, to forest.

Over the years, I have met countless homeowners whose once deep clear pond has deteriorated into a soupy, not too appealing mess of algae and overgrown aquatic weeds. My calm reassurance that this is simply a natural process typically fails to sooth frayed nerves. The question is always “Can you fix it?”.

The answer, for the most part, is “yes”, but it may take some time and money.

Heavy excavation and grading equipment can be used to deepen the basin by dredging sediment and organic muck, and to construct aquatic planting shelves around the pond perimeter. The goal, after all, is not to eliminate aquatic plants – they are essential to a healthy pond. Instead, you want to designate planting areas close to shore to complement the deep water zones. Sediment loading can be reduced by re-grading sections of the shoreline to divert surface runoff from the surrounding landscape. And, since constructed ponds often look uninspired, a bit of shoreline recontouring coupled with strategic stone placements can give a utilitarian pond a more naturalistic character.

Many pond owners have an inclination to mow their lawns right down to the water’s edge. This is a bad idea, since there is nothing to impede the flow of fertilizers, organic material, goose poop, and other nutrient laden substances into the pond. Shorelines should be managed as natural vegetation “buffers” to filter nutrients from surface run-off. Controlling the flow of excess nutrients into the pond will help control algae and excessive plant growth. Plus, a lush shoreline buffer improves the pond as wildlife habitat, and is also effective at keeping your lawn goose-free; geese won’t venture onto lawns if they can’t see the water. Smaller ponds in or adjacent to woodlands might also benefit from the use of leaf nets in the fall, to slow the accumulation of organic matter.

Pond health can also be significantly improved through proper aeration with windmill bubblers, aeration fountains or creeks and waterfalls. Well-oxygenated ponds tend to be much clearer than stagnant ponds, because they sustain the beneficial bacterial populations required to decompose organic matter before it can accumulate. It is even possible to introduce commercially available bacterial supplements that enhance the pond’s ability to “digest” organic matter.

First Things First: Planning and Permitting

Remember, every pond is different, as will be the prescribed treatment. Restoring a pond can be an expensive venture, so careful planning is highly recommended to ensure you aren’t wasting your money. And if you intend to dig, be sure to employ a experienced contractor who knows how to operate in ecologically sensitive aquatic environments.

Finally, be aware that a Conservation Authority permit may be required if the pond is located within a Regulated Area, and especially if the pond is “on-line” (i.e., stream fed). Consult with your CA early on in the planning process to discuss the project. Most likely, a permit will be necessary if it involves earthworks and plantings. Some environmental conditions and restrictions may apply if the pond is located in an ecologically sensitive area. While this may seem an annoying layer of bureaucratic “red tape”, there are sound environmental reasons for controlling development activities within regulated areas. In my experience, I have always found the CA’s very helpful in the planning and design of pond projects, and in some cases, some CA’s may even help fund or otherwise support the project.

With plans and permit in hand, you’ll be ready to undertake what is sure to be a challenging, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately satisfying project to rehabilitate your pond.