Home Association and Neighborhood Ponds
One of the common attractions for a housing development may be a pond or retention basin. It may have been originally built to help control surface water movement through the property, or as an amenity that could be used for recreational purposes.
If there is confusion over who has responsibility for maintenance of the pond, check legal documents to see if the county, city, homeowners association, or individual landowners have that responsibility. You may want to contact your city hall with questions about this and other safety concerns. A list of current city contacts is available at this link - http://www.jocogov.org/dept/public-works/stormwater-management
- Aquatic Weeds and Algae
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Fish and Wildlife - Homeowner Associations
- Water Testing
How to Extend the Life of Your Pond
Like all capital projects, this water source needs to be maintained for optimum performance and lifespan. But as part of the normal aging process, all ponds eventually begin to fill in with sediment, and experience more and more problems with water quality, aquatic weed control and reduced recreational use.
Keep these points in mind as best management practices to extend the life of your pond:
- Maintain a grass buffer strip around the pond to keep soil, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants from washing in. The wider the grass strip the better, but a minimum would be 10 - 15 feet. Maintain grass at 4 - 6 inches of height to improve its filtering ability.
- Surrounding homeowners should mow often. Let the clippings fall back onto the grass. Don't sweep or blow them into the street. Grass clippings return nutrients back into your soil, reducing the need for fertilizer.
- Sweep granular fertilizers and pesticides off driveways and sidewalks back onto the lawn to prevent washing into the storm drain, creek or pond. Fertilizer can cause algae blooms, which rob ponds and streams of oxygen. Lack of oxygen can cause fish kills.
- Prevent soil erosion. Mulch or seed bare soil. Soil particles carry pollutants into the streams.
- Clean up pet waste, which is a source of bacteria in our streams.
Disposal of Unwanted Chemicals and Paints
Only clean water should go into the storm drain. Dispose of unwanted chemicals at the Johnson County Household Hazardous Waste collection sites.
Call (913) 715-6900 for an appointment.
Test Your Soil to Save Money and Cut Down on Excess Fertilizer
Soil testing and sound fertilizer recommendations help reduce the potential for excessive nutrient applications and runoff. Soil tests in Johnson County can be processed through the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension office.
Farm Pond Information:
Videos