Restoring My Pond, Part II
My big pond project at the farm continues...
I hope you saw my blog earlier this week when I shared photos of the pond cleaning process - the removal of old trees, stumps, and decades of silt, that decaying organic material that had accumulated and settled on the pond floor. The next step was to repair and reinforce the pond walls and rebuild a more functional and appealing spillway.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Once the pond was cleaned and emptied, work began on the repairs. My main goal was to restore the pond so it supported a healthy ecosystem and was aesthetically pleasing.
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- Boulders and rocks which I already had here at the farm were put to good use at the pond. They were transported from my compost and materials yard to the pond’s edge.
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- And then the rocks were placed strategically and thoughtfully to bolster the walls of the pond.
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- As the pond walls were reinforced, so was the littoral land, the area surrounding the pond. It was leveled and smoothed.
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- The team from Pennella Contracting Inc. in Brewster, New York used concrete and more of my giant rocks to rebuild the spillway.
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- The plan was to create a crenellated wall to allow the water to pass through easily and naturally.
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- It took a few weeks to build the structure properly. Work also depended largely on the weather. Thankfully, we had more good days than bad.
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- To keep the rocks level and in place, concrete slabs were made.
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- Concrete was also used to bond the rocks together. Here, one can see the spillway taking shape.
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- On the other side, rocks were carefully positioned for good flow out of the pond.
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- And stones around the culvert were also assessed and modified where needed for controlled water flow entering from other sources.
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- As work was completed, water was directed back into the pond. Here it is almost filled up.
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- Here is the crenellated spillway complete.
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- … And look how nicely the water flows through. Spillways are crucial for water control. They ensure surplus water flows through safely and efficiently, preventing any flooding.
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- The surrounding areas are also looking more finished.
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- The little structure by the pond’s edge was cleaned and repainted my signature “Bedford Gray.”
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- The water is much cleaner now that all the silt has been removed. Reflections of the bare trees can be seen in the water.
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- This is how the pond looked yesterday.
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- The next phase will include selecting and planting the best trees and other specimens for the pond’s edge. The right plantings will not only look beautiful but will also provide a good habitat for wildlife.
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- This will soon be such a wonderful area to visit here at my farm. Follow along here and on my Instagram page @marthastewartblog to see the final phase of my pond restoration project.
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