Farm Pond & Retention Pond Construction

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A well-designed pond adds value and utility to your property - whether for livestock watering, irrigation, fire protection, recreation, or stormwater management. SOKY Elite Contractors builds ponds sized and engineered for your specific needs. 

Livestock & Agricultural Ponds Water source for cattle, horses, and other livestock:

• Sized for herd size and seasonal needs
• Proper depth to prevent freezing in winter
• Access ramp design for livestock
• Fencing considerations

Irrigation Ponds Water storage for crop or pasture irrigation:

• Volume calculations for irrigation needs
• Pump access design
• Maintenance considerations

Recreational Ponds Fishing and swimming ponds:

• Deeper design for fish habitat
• Dock and deck areas
• Beach or entry areas for swimming
• Landscaping integration

Retention & Stormwater Ponds Stormwater management and erosion control:

• Sized for runoff volume
• Overflow spillway design
• Sediment management
• May be required for site development

Multi-Purpose Ponds Combined uses - livestock watering, irrigation, and recreation:

• Designed for multiple functions
• Separate access areas for different uses
• Proper size for all intended purposes

1. Site Selection Critical factors for successful ponds:

• Watershed size (how much land drains to pond)
• Soil type (clay soils hold water, sandy soils leak)
• Dam location (narrowest point with good cut/fill balance)
• Overflow path (emergency spillway location)

2. Design Pond engineering includes:

• Volume calculations
• Dam height and width
• Spillway sizing and placement
• Depth zones for intended use
• Excavation and fill quantities

3. Permitting Many ponds require permits from:

• Army Corps of Engineers (if in wetlands or streams)
• Local soil conservation district
• We assist with permitting when required

4. Construction Typical sequence:

• Clear and strip topsoil from dam area
• Excavate pond basin
• Build dam in lifts with compaction
• Shape spillway and overflow
• Cleanup and seeding

5. Filling & Establishment

• Natural filling from runoff (most common)
• Well supplementation if needed
• Vegetation establishment on dam and spillway
• Erosion control during filling

Proper Depth

• Livestock ponds: 8-12 feet at deepest
• Fish ponds: 12-15 feet minimum
• Retention ponds: Variable based on purpose
• Depth prevents complete freezing and allows fish survival

Dam Design

• Height: Adequate to store desired volume
• Width: 8-12 feet minimum on top for access
• Slopes: 3:1 outside slope, 2:1 or 3:1 inside slope
• Compaction: Critical for preventing leaks

Spillway Every pond needs emergency overflow:

• Grassed waterway or rock-lined channel
• Sized for 25-year storm event minimum
• Located to prevent dam failure

Watershed

• Pond needs 10-15 acres minimum watershed per acre-foot of volume
• Too small = slow filling
• Too large = erosion and sediment problems

Large Excavators Deep digging and dam construction

Dozers Dam building, spreading, and compaction

Scrapers (when needed) Efficient for large ponds requiring balanced cut/fill

Compaction Equipment Critical for watertight dam construction

Pond construction costs vary widely based on size and site conditions:

Small Ponds (1/4 to 1/2 acre surface): $10,000-$25,000 

Medium Ponds (1/2 to 1 acre surface): $25,000-$50,000 

Large Ponds (1 to 2+ acre surface): $50,000-$100,000+

Factors affecting cost:

• Size and depth
• Dam height and length
• Soil conditions (clay vs rock)
• Access for equipment
• Spillway requirements
• Permitting needs

We provide detailed estimates after site visit and design.

How do I know if my site is good for a pond? We assess your site for watershed, soil type, dam location, and spillway path. Clay soils and good watersheds make the best ponds.

Will my pond leak? Properly built ponds in clay soils typically seal themselves within 1-2 years. Sandy or rocky sites may require liners or bentonite treatment.

How long does it take to build a pond? Small ponds: 3-5 days Medium ponds: 1-2 weeks Large ponds: 2-4 weeks Depends on size, weather, and equipment availability.

How long to fill naturally? Varies greatly based on watershed and rainfall. Small ponds may fill in weeks, large ponds may take months or years to reach full capacity.

Do I need permits? Depends on size, location, and water source. Ponds that dam streams or are in wetlands typically require permits. We help determine requirements.

Can you stock it with fish? We build the pond. Fish stocking is done by you or fish suppliers after the pond matures (typically 1-2 years).

What maintenance does a pond need?

• Mow dam to prevent woody growth
• Repair any erosion promptly
• Manage aquatic vegetation
• Check spillway after major storms
• Well-designed ponds are low-maintenance

SOKY Elite Contractors provides drainage solutions and water management throughout south central Kentucky:

Primary Service Area:

• Warren County
• Barren County
• Allen County
• Simpson County
• Butler County
• Edmonson County
• Hart County

Serving:

• Bowling Green and surrounding areas
• Glasgow
• Scottsville
• Franklin
• Cave City
• Horse Cave
• Rural communities throughout the region

We'll travel further for larger projects - contact us to discuss your location.