Geo liners for decorative ponds help to enhance the beauty and value of your property. Whether the pond will be for aesthetics, attracting wildlife, fishing, or lacing up your skates in the winter; there are many factors to consider when designing and building your dream pond.
Area and Depth
Depending on the climate and intended use of your constructed pond, depth may be more of a factor than most people realize. If the pond will be constructed in a climate with four seasons and is intended to maintain fish stock; certain areas, depths, and slopes are suggested to allow aquatic life to thrive. For a vibrant fish population or cool swimming hole, a minimum pond area of 1/2 to 1 acre is recommended, with as much as the pond as possible reaching a depth of 15 feet and side slopes at 1:3 for fish habitat and 1:4 for swimming access. This combination of depth and relatively steep side slopes help reduce aquatic plant growth. An irregular shoreline is also helpful for fishery habitat. If the main goal of the pond is to attract wildlife, a shallower 1-4-foot depth in most of the pond and flatter 1:10 side slopes are recommended to encourage plant growth and easy access for wildlife.
Lining
To line, or not to line? That is the question! Soil type is crucial in determining whether a geosynthetic lining system is needed to maintain a pond. In the absence of relatively impervious clay soils or bedrock; a geo lining system is almost always the best bet for water retention and sustaining a relatively consistent water level. This not only keeps the cost of recharging the water low if not being refilled naturally, but also provides a consistent environment for sustaining aquatic life within the pond.
The Right Type of Liner
Once the decision to use a geomembrane liner has been made, the intended uses and surrounding environment again come into play when determining the type of liner that is best suited for the project. Whether the liner will be left exposed or covered with soil is one factor to consider as some lining systems are formulated for sun exposure as others are not. The intended use of the pond is another factor, especially if the pond will be used for swimming or wading, as a smooth geomembrane tends to be slippery when wet, and a textured lining system may be better suited for specific practices. If the liner is to be left exposed, and wildlife may be using the pond (especially types with hooves) a scrim-reinforced geomembrane with increased puncture resistance may be key to reducing the risk of liner damage.
Our goal is to provide you with a water-tight pond to enjoy on your property year-round. The team at ICS has years of experience in design and installation to help you choose the best layout and liner for your decorative pond; give us a call!
