ABSTRACT
The rural American landscape is a rich tapestry of interdependent ecosystems. It is also a working landscape of over 900 million privately owned acres devoted to cropland, pastureland, or rangeland.[1] Scattered across this diverse matrix are countless farm ponds, reflecting the light of day and night (Fig. 1[2]). Although there is no accurate count of the total number of ponds in the United States, a conservative estimate is well over 2 million. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reported more than 2.1 million ponds had been built on privately owned lands by 1980.[3]
The Soil Conservation Service [SCS (now NRCS)] assisted in the planning and construction of approximately 2 million farm ponds during the 30-yr period between 1945 and 1975. According to SCS historical records, in 1974 the South region of the United States led in the cumulative number of ponds built with 1,108,959. The Midwest region was next with 450,847 ponds. The West and Northeast regions followed with 278,360 and 134,327ponds respectively. Texas,Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Kentucky were the leading states in number of ponds built by SCS at that time.[4]
Farm ponds continue to be much in demand with many constructed each year in the United States. Iowa, for example, reports 87,000 farm ponds with an additional 1000 being added yearly.[5] A conservative estimate suggests over 50,000 ponds ranging in size from less than 1 acre to over 30 acre in Virginia.[6] The list goes on with Mississippi reporting more than 280,000 farm ponds ranging in size from 1/2 acre to 40 acre.[7]
POND CHARACTERISTICS
Farm ponds are commonly described as water impoundments used for agricultural or domestic farm uses and enjoyment. NRCS defines them as a water impoundments made by constructing a dam or by excavating a pit or dugout.[8] There are two general types of farm ponds, largely determined by topography. Embankment ponds are formed by impounding water behind a dam built across a watercourse. Good sites occur in gently sloping valleys with steep side slopes to provide adequate pond depth and discourage the
establishment of aquatic vegetation. NRCS recommends dams that are less than 35-ft high and located where their failure will not result in loss of life; damage to buildings, highways, and other infrastructure elements; or in interrupted use of public utilities.[3] Excavated ponds, as the name implies, are constructed by removing soil to create a pond basin at an elevation below the surrounding ground level. Unlike embankment ponds, they are typically constructed on relatively level areas where a source of water may be more limited.
