creating a pond to drain water from soggy yard

Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions. I have about a
half-acre lot that slopes down from back to front and right to left.
The front yard is fine. The problem's in the back just behind the house
where the yard had to be made to slope up a bit toward the house
creating a sort of dip in the yard. The water can't run downhill
smoothly to the left because there's a small swimming pool and deck there.

I'm also worried--perhaps unnecessarily about creating something that
will end up being labelled as "wetland" and create future problems for
myself or neighbors.

The other thing is that I wonder if I'm successful in draining water
from the problem spot in the middle of my back yard if it will simply
mean that more water comes in from the lot uphill from mine.

Thanks again for your help.

Janet

Janet Price wrote:
Hi,

I have a yard that's soggy in places. The soil's mostly clay and
stones. I had a landscaper out for a free consultation on solving the
problem and he suggested building a small pond (10' x 15' x 4 ' deep at
the deep end) in the low corner of the yard and next year if necessary,
put in some underground pipes to help drain water into it. From reading
the FAQ for this list, it seems to me that I wouldn't be creating a pond
but a small swamp.

Have any of you done this kind of thing successfully?

Thanks for any suggestions or advice.

Janet in Amherst MA

Around here, they're called retention ponds. When the ground is soggy or
prone to flooding, they dig a pond somewhere on the property. Because it's
lower than the surrounding area, all the water drains to the "pond", thereby
leaving the rest of the property high and dry. Here in FL, most of them stay
full of water all the time. I would not consider it appropriate for koi or
goldfish. Mosquito fish, yes. Fancy fish you want to get attached to: no.
This type of pond is not suitable for recirculation purposes, but it would
make a nice home for frogs, lizards, ducks and any number of other
water-lovin' critters. Some of the ponds are dug deeply enough to keep water
in them all the time, and solar powered pumps are used to make fountains to
keep the water from stagnating. It's a low maintenance pond that can be
quite attractive: but it's not for fish, unless it's a HUGE area.

Lee

"Janet Price" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a yard that's soggy in places. The soil's mostly clay and
stones. I had a landscaper out for a free consultation on solving the
problem and he suggested building a small pond (10' x 15' x 4 ' deep at
the deep end) in the low corner of the yard and next year if necessary,
put in some underground pipes to help drain water into it. From reading
the FAQ for this list, it seems to me that I wouldn't be creating a pond
but a small swamp.

Have any of you done this kind of thing successfully?

Thanks for any suggestions or advice.

Janet in Amherst MA

Around here, they're called retention ponds. When the ground is soggy or
prone to flooding, they dig a pond somewhere on the property. Because it's
lower than the surrounding area, all the water drains to the "pond", thereby
leaving the rest of the property high and dry. Here in FL, most of them stay
full of water all the time. I would not consider it appropriate for koi or
goldfish. Mosquito fish, yes. Fancy fish you want to get attached to: no.
This type of pond is not suitable for recirculation purposes, but it would
make a nice home for frogs, lizards, ducks and any number of other
water-lovin' critters. Some of the ponds are dug deeply enough to keep water
in them all the time, and solar powered pumps are used to make fountains to
keep the water from stagnating. It's a low maintenance pond that can be
quite attractive: but it's not for fish, unless it's a HUGE area.

Lee

"Janet Price" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a yard that's soggy in places. The soil's mostly clay and
stones. I had a landscaper out for a free consultation on solving the
problem and he suggested building a small pond (10' x 15' x 4 ' deep at
the deep end) in the low corner of the yard and next year if necessary,
put in some underground pipes to help drain water into it. From reading
the FAQ for this list, it seems to me that I wouldn't be creating a pond
but a small swamp.

Have any of you done this kind of thing successfully?

Thanks for any suggestions or advice.

Janet in Amherst MA

Based on your description, the water runs down hill to the point where the
soil was raised to keep water away from the foundation, and then because of
the pool, it can't exit in the other direction. For this type of situation,
I think you would do well to put in a drain line, perforated pipe embedded
in gravel, along the low area and extend it to a lower elevation in the
front yard. This will take the standing water away and allow the soil to
dry.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"Janet Price" wrote in message
...
Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions. I have about a
half-acre lot that slopes down from back to front and right to left.
The front yard is fine. The problem's in the back just behind the house
where the yard had to be made to slope up a bit toward the house
creating a sort of dip in the yard. The water can't run downhill
smoothly to the left because there's a small swimming pool and deck there.

I'm also worried--perhaps unnecessarily about creating something that
will end up being labelled as "wetland" and create future problems for
myself or neighbors.

The other thing is that I wonder if I'm successful in draining water
from the problem spot in the middle of my back yard if it will simply
mean that more water comes in from the lot uphill from mine.

Thanks again for your help.

Janet

Janet Price wrote:
Hi,

I have a yard that's soggy in places. The soil's mostly clay and
stones. I had a landscaper out for a free consultation on solving the
problem and he suggested building a small pond (10' x 15' x 4 ' deep at
the deep end) in the low corner of the yard and next year if necessary,
put in some underground pipes to help drain water into it. From reading
the FAQ for this list, it seems to me that I wouldn't be creating a pond
but a small swamp.

Have any of you done this kind of thing successfully?

Thanks for any suggestions or advice.

Janet in Amherst MA

Based on your description, the water runs down hill to the point where the
soil was raised to keep water away from the foundation, and then because of
the pool, it can't exit in the other direction. For this type of situation,
I think you would do well to put in a drain line, perforated pipe embedded
in gravel, along the low area and extend it to a lower elevation in the
front yard. This will take the standing water away and allow the soil to
dry.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"Janet Price" wrote in message
...
Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions. I have about a
half-acre lot that slopes down from back to front and right to left.
The front yard is fine. The problem's in the back just behind the house
where the yard had to be made to slope up a bit toward the house
creating a sort of dip in the yard. The water can't run downhill
smoothly to the left because there's a small swimming pool and deck there.

I'm also worried--perhaps unnecessarily about creating something that
will end up being labelled as "wetland" and create future problems for
myself or neighbors.

The other thing is that I wonder if I'm successful in draining water
from the problem spot in the middle of my back yard if it will simply
mean that more water comes in from the lot uphill from mine.

Thanks again for your help.

Janet

Janet Price wrote:
Hi,

I have a yard that's soggy in places. The soil's mostly clay and
stones. I had a landscaper out for a free consultation on solving the
problem and he suggested building a small pond (10' x 15' x 4 ' deep at
the deep end) in the low corner of the yard and next year if necessary,
put in some underground pipes to help drain water into it. From reading
the FAQ for this list, it seems to me that I wouldn't be creating a pond
but a small swamp.

Have any of you done this kind of thing successfully?

Thanks for any suggestions or advice.

Janet in Amherst MA