Lake Construction
A newly excavated lake that is almost full awaiting landscaping and planting.There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a lake or pond maturing into its surroundings and seeing a healthy eco system build over time, especially when it started as a plain old field and you’re the one responsible for creating it.
Lake construction is something we are becoming more and more involved in and something we are very passionate about. We understand that every client has differing needs and pre conceived ideas of how their project will look. We can help bring these ideas to reality and help steer your project in the right direction. Once we know your initial ideas and what your lakes main use will be we can advise you on the design of your water and the best way of utilising the land you have available.
There are many things to consider when constructing a lake, it is paramount that no corners are cut and things are done correctly first time around! Mistakes can cause serious headache and are likely to double the cost of your project long term.
Before: An old ditch and rough land on the edge of a car park.Some of the many things to consider before lake construction takes place:
Water SourceThe source of your water for the lake should be assessed to see if the project is viable, whether it spring, surface or ground water it needs to be clean, relatively free of contaminates and of a sufficient amount to supply the area needed.
The Surrounding Area It is very important to minimise damage whilst construction takes place and maximise habitat once construction is completed. Your aim should be to try and complement the area creating more wildlife habitat than there was previously, this is something we feel very strongly about and try to implement at all costs.
TopographyThe site in which your project is to take place plays a huge part in the methods and difficulty level of the construction. The ‘lay of the land’ on the site can both benefit you and break you. A sloping site can benefit in the way of reducing or eradicating the need to remove spoil off site therefore reducing overall costs. Whereas a flat site with some flood risk may make planning unobtainable, it could also be unviable with the associated costs of having to remove spoil off site if raising the bank levels were restricted. Services and land drains are also to be taken into consideration, any land drains must be located and sealed to prevent water escaping and any services must be avoided.
After: A functional stock pond ready for plants and fish.SubstrateThe substrate soils in which your lake is situated is the most important factor to consider when constructing a lake. If these soils are permeable (water passes through it) it is unlikely to hold water unless the lake is sat directly into the water table. The ideal substrate to form a water tight lake base is clay, or majority clay soils. As long as there is a good amount of clay present the less permeable areas can be worked in such a way that they hold. Key trenching with quality clay on retaining embankments is also a must in holding water, a key trench acts as a watertight underground wall containing clay that runs the perimeter of your lake. Test holes throughout the site are key when assessing soils for water holding abilities. If the site for your project is mainly impermeable soil (sand, gravel etc) then the only option (other than it being level with the water table) would be to transport suitable clay to site to roll in and form the base of your lake. This is both time consuming and costly. Another option that is sometimes used would be a liner, these can be uneconomical and costly when covering large areas, but not an impossible feat.
These are some of the main considerations to think about when planning a lake construction project, if you are thinking of forming a lake we can help you every step of the way, from design advise, excavation, landscaping and planting to swim building and stocking with fish, it is our passion, our life and we thrive off helping like minded people!