Pond question

[Snyder10]

If anyone is going to know the answer to this it’ll be someone in this group.
My family has the opportunity to purchase a pond, roughly 12 acres, recreational use.

First question is: has anyone else bought a property with a pond and what are some questions to ask or things you typically wouldn’t think of

2nd: I’m sure liability insurance is a must, is this expensive enough to be a deterrent from buying?
Thanks in advance fellas

 

[hickslawns]

12 acres might be closer to a small lake. @CJD3

 

[Snyder10]

12 acres might be closer to a small lake. @CJD3

I think 8 of pond, 4 of land

 

[jagermeister]

A consideration of mine would not just be the liability insurance, but simply the risk of a loved one or a neighbor kid losing their life by drowning. Or falling through the ice. How close are the neighboring houses? How many kids live nearby? Is it close to a school? Insurance saves you from losing everything financially… But nothing can repair the damages of lifelong grief/regret. Call me a worry-wort or whatever. But it is what it is.

What are the interior slopes of the shoreline? 2:1? 4:1? Shallower slopes equate to more vegetation growth and more maintenance (potentially). Is the downwind side of the pond armored with stone? Again… if not, wind and wave action = more erosion = more maintenance.

Lastly I would assess the watershed that feeds the pond and assess the condition of the outlet structure. Is there water level control? Is it sized appropriately for the watershed?

 

[CJD3]

In addition to what Jim said above, is there a dam ?

Dams are monitored by the state and come in 3 classes. They will class the dam and expect a maintenance program. Inspections are made every 5 years to the damn, intake and spillway.
Fee is paid to the state every year but they only inspect every 5 years. Fees are based on the class of the dam by its length, heigh and width as well as any risk to people or structures if it were to break in a 100 year storm situation.
You do not want to get into a pissing match with em. Only engineers on the “list” can be used and a simple hydraulic study can cost thousands of dollars.

Is there a dam?

 

[Snyder10]

It’s kind of in the middle of nowhere, no kids, school, fenced in with locked gate. Tiled so it’s not flooding surrounding fields…no dam. Rocks all around to assist with erosion, middle is probably 20ft deep

 

[P8riot]

You're thinking too much. Buy it and get the jet skis in there!!!

 

[Sauger]

I would consider that a small lake. Some good information already shared. WWe have a 1 Acre pond and about the only thing I every worry about are people and dogs walking on ice.



You will need to do a fish survey to make sure it's not over populated and you can adjust or add as needed. You will also want to determine if there is enough food.

Some people put Agitation in to help with muck and turn over. I do not do this but it does help with dead spots.
Lastly.....have fun and make memories. I don't have a bunch of knowledge just my own experiences, and I am happy to help with any questions. There is a shop in Baltic "the pond guy" that has wrote good books and sells everything you coukd need including fish.

Good luck