BY TRISH WILLIAMS AVONDALE Over seventy pond owners or persons con sidering building a pond, learned from experts what is involved in constructing and maintaining a pond. The exchange of information took place at a pond symposium entitled Ponds of Southeastern Pennsylvania, held last Saturday at Stroud Water Research Center. The Center is a research laboratory of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. It’s main purpose is to develop and test new approaches and concepts for understanding and managing stream and river ecosystems. The Stround Center is located in the White Clay Creek Ex perimental Watershed, an area devoted to long-term studies in stream and river ecology. The symposium sponsor, White Clay Watershed Association, based in Landenberg, is devoted to We Specialize In GRAIN HANDLING EQUIPMENT EARLY ORDER DISC COMPLETE SYSTEMS, EQUIPMENT, SALES, INSTALLATION. SERVICE FOR CATTLE, HOG, POULTRY AND GRAIN AGSH- 2754 CREEK HILL RD., LEOLA. PA 17540 Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 to 4:30; Sat. 7:30 to 11:30 (Parts Only) Symposium details how to build pond promoting the development and preservation of the natural resources of the White Clay Creek Valley. It proposes to protect economic and aesthetic values; to insure the quality and quantity of water; to conserve soil, woodlands, open space and wildlife, and to aid in the beautification and general im provement of the community through education and cooperation with other groups with compatible goals. The symposium met to the letter the Association’s founding prin ciples, by bringing together ex perts from other private, state and government organizations to speak on pond management. Elbert Wells of the Soil Con servation Service, spoke on design, construction, and maintenance of small ponds. Wells said, interest in having ponds has increased over the last EQUIPMENT, me. PHONE: 717-656-4151 ★ SCBVINC PA, N.J. and N.Y. BROCK. BINS Select from dozens of models, all with ad vanced features that make your BROCK bin a better buy. Such as our exclusive Cam-Lock Door that needs no tools to open or dose, our standard equipment top ladder and hand rail (that others charge extra for, where available at all), and BROCK’S outstanding quality materials and construction. See us now for your best buy in grain holding, drying, and storage. UNIS - CALL NOW several years among Chester County residents. He advised that persons who are thinking of building a pond consider all the costs of construction and main tenance. “The ponds that we have been seeing installed in the area over the last several years are averaging one-quarter to one-half acre in size, and $5OOO to $lO,OOO in construction costs,” said Wells. Pond construction costs are hard to fix because of the many variables involved. Equipment costs will vary depending on the contractor selected for the job. The amount of earth to be moved and the distance it must be moved varies. Size of the pipe required for the principle spillway will in fluence cost greatly as will the nature and condition of the site. The proposed use of the pond and the size and nature of the water shed will determine the con- struction techniques and design, thus affecting the price. Permits are required for con struction of most ponds, said Wells. The permits are issued by the Department of Environmental Resources. A permit is required for the construction of any pond with a watershed greater than 100 acres, ponds with a dam 15 feet or more in height, ponds with a permanent storage capacity of 50 acre-feet or more and ponds which create a hazard to life or property, according to Wells. Also, your township may have ordinances pertaining to ponds and should be contacted. When selecting a pond site, the ability of the soil to bold water is of prime importance, days and silty clays are excellent for reservoirs and embankments. Sandy clays are satisfactory, while sand and gravel are not suitable due to their porous nature. Test pits should be dug on the pond site to determine Stroud Water Research Center, Avondale, was the site of the symposium on Ponds of Southeastern Pennsylvania. POURED REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION We are qualified to handle any poured concrete job you may need. We use a practical aluminum forming system to create concrete structures of maximum strength and durability. For a highly satisfactory job at an affordable price, get in touch with us. POURED FOR DURABILITY (Sroffdole /f| poured wallsMUL BRICK CHURCH RD. LEOLA, PA. 17540 FOR SALES & LAYOUT CONTACT; GROFFDALE POURED WALLS (717) 656-2016 JAKE KING (717)656-7566 Lancaster Famine, Saturday, April 16,1983—D13 suitability. Wells said it is also essential to have an adequate water supply. The water source and topography are also important considerations in the type of pond that is con structed. Wells advocated taking care to identify special problems that may occur and to correct them during initial construction to avoid expensive maintenance or corrections after the pond is constructed. “Ponds, like cars, need regular maintenance to work properly and provide enjoyment for their owners and users,” said Wells. Regular maintenance items in clude periodic checking of the pond’s pipe and emergency spillways and pipe outlets; checking for erosion and clearing debris from the pipe inlets and outlets. Other factors involved in pond maintenance were addressed by the speakers who followed. (Turn to Page 014)
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