Sediment Ponds
By definition a pond is a structure made by constructing an embankment or by excavating a pit. Ponds can have many uses such as water for livestock, wildlife habitat, fire control, irrigation, and water quality. Ponds are used to improve water quality by collecting runoff and holding it for a period of time that will allow for the sediment and other contaminants to settle out.
The control structure, typically a riser built out of concrete or metal pipe, allows for the slow release of water from the facility after a rain event so that the downstream channel is not subject to erosive forces. Ponds typically have an emergency spillway that, in the event of a very large storm, will allow for the controlled release of excess water. Ponds need to be maintained. The riser and outlet structures should always be free of debris and blockages. The embankment or dam should be free of trees as they drop leaves and limbs which can block a spillway. Their roots can also allow water to be piped through the embankment which could cause erosion or failure of the embankment.
All ponds require a soils investigation before construction to insure that the facility will perform as designed and will not be prone to structural failure. Ponds also provide a habitat for many aquatic organisms. Ponds are a great breeding ground for dragonflies which help to control the mosquito population. They eat the mosquito larvae as they develop in the water and the flying adults after they emerge from the water.
